Access to downtown’s main government building will be restricted through the end of the year as Silver Avenue closes for an 18-month construction project to fix water damage issues at the county’s $67 million headquarters.
Silver Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets will remain closed to vehicle traffic through the end of 2025 as Bernalillo County repairs ongoing water intrusion problems in the skybridge at Alvarado Square, the county’s primary administrative facility.
The closure affects access to the eight-story building that houses more than 800 county employees and serves approximately 140,000 residents annually who visit to conduct business with county departments. The project addresses water damage issues that have persisted since the county consolidated nearly all its departments and services into the 282,000-square-foot downtown facility.
“The project involves construction on the roof of Alvarado Square’s skybridge to resolve ongoing water intrusion issues,” according to a county press release. The work was approved by the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners on April 8 and is being managed by the Facilities and Fleet Management Department.
The road closure is necessary to allow crews to safely use a crane to lift materials to the roof of the building, located at 415 Silver Ave. SW. Pedestrian access to the building will remain open, and the main entrance will continue operating normally throughout construction.
The project comes as county taxpayers continue paying for cost overruns at the facility. The county purchased the building in 2017 for $2.7 million and initially estimated renovation costs at $36 million. By 2019, that cost had jumped to $53 million, and by 2021 exceeded $67 million, according to KRQE reporting.
The current skybridge repair addresses infrastructure problems that have affected the building since the county moved its headquarters downtown in 2021. The facility was designed to consolidate county services in one location, but the ongoing maintenance issues have required continued investment in the aging structure.
Downtown commuters will need to use alternative routes during the closure. The restriction affects bus routes 8 and 36, which serve the nearby Alvarado Transportation Center, requiring detours through Gold Avenue and other downtown streets, according to city transit officials.
This marks the second significant closure of Silver Avenue for skybridge maintenance in recent years. In December 2023, the same stretch of road was closed on weekends for similar skybridge work, according to KRQE.
County officials say wayfinding signage will be posted to assist staff and visitors throughout the project duration. The county “appreciates the public’s patience and understanding as it undertakes these essential upgrades to ensure the long-term safety, reliability, and sustainability of its primary administrative facility,” according to the press release.
