Where Should New Mexico’s New, $79 Million Dollar Highway Go?

The highway has been approved. Now, where to build it is the question.

A couple of "preferred routes" for the new highway, aka the "Border Highway Connector",  are being considered but no final decision has been made yet. Some of the land required for some of the proposed routes is privately owned.

If you have any thoughts, concerns, etc about the new highway project, you have until June 13th to email them to BorderHighwayConnector@bhinc.com.

Of the 6 final routes, the one that drew the most support was "Alternative 3".

The Alternative 3 route would begin at Pete Domenici, at a new intersection about two miles north of the Santa Teresa port of entry. It would traverse roughly 5.5 miles of privately owned, vacant desert land in Santa Teresa before crossing active Union Pacific Railroad tracks over a new bridge into Sunland Park.

It would then parallel Union Pacific tracks for about two miles through Sunland Park before connecting to Anapra Road, which Sunland Park city officials have committed to upgrade to handle more traffic - EPTimes

From there. it's an easy hop to Sunland Park, I-10 and Loop 375. Another option, (5), would extend NM Highway 9, (Columbus Highway), from Pete Domenici to McNutt. 5a skips the McNutt Road connection and goes to Anapra.

Why Is This New Highway Needed?

The highway is meant to make it easier for traffic to flow from the Santa Teresa port of entry, (and area businesses), to Sunland Park and El Paso. It would also be an alternate route if anything should close Pete Domenici, aka McNutt Road, NM273.

For more info on the Border Highway Connector, you can click here.