Highway projects to affect Santa Fe

SANTA FE (KRQE) - Two significant highway projects in Santa Fe will slow drivers on NM 599 and also shut down an Interstate 25 exit to St. Francis Drive for nearly two months.

Preliminary work already is underway on rehabilitating four bridges in the I-25-St. Francis Drive interchange on Santa Fe's south side.

The $6.1 million project is scheduled to be completed late in the summer and will require the complete closure of the northbound off-ramp from I-25 to northbound St. Francis for 55 days, according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

Signs will mark a detour route.

St. Francis Drive is the major north-south thoroughfare through Santa Fe and carries considerable commuter traffic.

On Santa Fe's west side construction is to begin this week on a new interchange where County Road 62 meets NM 599, the Santa Fe bypass.

The $6.5 million project to build a diamond-style interchange is scheduled for completion in July 2013.

During the project the cross road will be closed as new on- and off-ramps are built. When the ramps are completed, traffic will be detoured to them as the rest of the project proceeds.

The NM 599 frontage roads will remain open during the work.