The city will pause road construction projects in key areas during three major events this fall and winter to reduce traffic congestion for visitors and residents.
The Department of Municipal Development announced Thursday it will halt construction around the State Fair grounds beginning Sept. 4, marking the start of seasonal moratoriums that will also cover the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and the holiday shopping season.
“We love to build and fix our roads, but we know that construction can make navigating streets difficult. That’s why we limit construction around popular events like the Fair and Balloon Fiesta every year,” Jennifer Turner, director of the Department of Municipal Development, said in a press release.
The first moratorium runs Sept. 4-14 and covers streets bounded by Menaul Boulevard on the north, Pennsylvania Street on the east, Southern Boulevard on the south and San Mateo Boulevard on the west, plus key routes commonly used by fairgoers.
During the Balloon Fiesta, scheduled for Oct. 4-12, construction will be suspended in an area bounded by Roy Avenue and Tramway Boulevard on the north, Interstate 25 on the east, Osuna Road on the south and 2nd Street on the west. The moratorium will also apply to Old Town, the Uptown area near Winrock and Coronado shopping malls, and the Northwest Area near Cottonwood Shopping Mall.
The longest pause runs Nov. 25 through Jan. 1, 2026, covering the holiday shopping season. Construction will halt in Old Town, Uptown, Northwest and Downtown areas, focusing on arterial and collector routes used by shoppers.
The city said exceptions may be made for emergencies, ongoing construction projects and work requiring immediate excavation.