NMDOT to reinforce U.S. 82 tunnel this summer

CLOUDCROFT — This summer, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) will begin work reinforcing the ceiling of the 68-year old tunnel on U.S. Highway 82.

According to NMDOT, the work will cost about $3 million and will include the removal of existing gunite or mortar, loose rocks, bolt larger boulders to the upper layer of tunnel, and install drainage improvements.  

"This is to improve safety through the tunnel," said NMDOT Public Information Officer for District 2 Manon Arnett. "The ceiling roof is cracking a little bit and some smaller pieces were falling off. This is to reinforce the walls of the tunnel. We're going to take all that old material down and put new gunite up. When they take it down, if there's any loose boulders or anything in there, they're going to reattach them with bolts." 

The project contractor, Kiewit, is based out of Omaha, Nebraska but has a New Mexico office in Albuquerque. There is no concrete start date for the project, but they are expected to begin work in August. 

Three public meetings on the project were held in December in Alamogordo, High Rolls and Cloudcroft. 

"The majority of the comments were (concerning) the work schedule," Arnett said. "They really wanted minimal impact as possible."

From these discussions, Arnett said NMDOT came up with a schedule to work between the hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. There will be no nighttime closures during the weekends. 

The upper closure will start just above the tunnel at the High Rolls store. The lower closure will be in the area of the Tunnel Vista Lookout. Detour signs will be in place and will direct traffic to state Route 244 and U.S. Highway 70. 

The project is expected to take three months to complete, weather permitting.

"We hope everyone can be patient," Arnett said. "This is a safety project, so it's needed."

For more information or for updates after the project has begun, visit nmroads.com.