Work to begin Monday on Prince Street Overpass

CMI staff

Work will begin Monday on the Prince Street Overpass to fix issues that led to the bridge’s closure in December.

The repair work, which will begin on the northbound lane, is expected to take a month, said Manon A. Arnett, public information officer for District Two of the New Mexico Department of Transportation. The $100,000 repair will include replacing the expansion joints, structural steel repairs, and deck resurfacing and sealing.

The overpass, which was completed in 1989 and handles an average of more than 8,500 vehicles daily, was closed Dec. 10 after a bridge deck joint became detached, fell and created a 6-inch gap in the northbound lane. The bridge was reopened the following day after a temporary repair, with the DOT noting a more permanent repair was pending.

When work on the northbound lane is complete, crews will move to the southbound lane. At least one lane of traffic will be closed at all times, but the department does not expect it will need to reroute traffic. Each lane is expected to require about the same amount of time to repair.

The speed limit through the work zone will be 25 mph, and motorists should expect delays, particularly during weekdays.

Upon completion of the work, the overpass will receive its 24-month inspection. The overpass was last inspected Nov. 8, 2011, according to the DOT.