Border highway connector (BHC) - construction phase

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $170 million to the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Transit and Rail Division under the Highway Planning and Construction program (CFDA 20.205) on September 22, 2025, for construction of the Border Highway Connector (BHC) project. The project encompasses construction of a new directionally separated four-lane highway spanning 8.3 miles from New Mexico Route 136 to New Mexico Route 273 in the Anapra area, including a new bridge crossing Union Pacific Railroad tracks, multiuse pathway development, drainage infrastructure, and intersection improvements at Anapra Road and NM 273. Project completion is scheduled for April 30, 2029.

This Highway Planning and Construction grant supports critical transportation infrastructure improvements through the federal-aid highway program authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As a state-administered program, NMDOT leverages the federal funding to enhance regional connectivity, support multimodal transportation options, and improve roadway safety and capacity. The award represents a significant investment in New Mexico's transportation infrastructure within the broader context of the FHWA's comprehensive support for highway construction, preservation, and multimodal transportation network development across eligible public road corridors nationwide.

Project description

Construct a new directionally separated four lane highway, and a new bridge over the union pacific railroad tracks. Construct multiuse path, drainage structures, and intersection improvements at anapra road and NM 273 intersections. From NM 136 at MP 1.79 TP NM 273 at MP 1.49 (8.3 miles)