Ongoing repairs to I-40 sinkhole causes traffic backup

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Lanes of I-40 have been shut down for repairs to fix a massive sinkhole after monsoon rains last week. NMDOT has been working to fix the issue and they’re making progress. 

The overall theme from people KOB 4 talked to was that it’s adding a lot of time onto their commute.

A semi truck driver – who did not want to go on camera – says some people are lucky and can find alternate routes, but that isn’t the case for a lot of people who drive big trucks. 

Another driver who lives in the area says it adds at least 15 minutes to his drive every day to work. 

“It’s backed up pretty bad. I always come in from the east heading westbound, so I find that it is almost better to come in from an alternate route, like Menaul possibly. And then figure out a clever way to go down the right side lane and be smarter than the average bear so to speak,” said Ken Woody. 

Woody says one thing he has noticed is New Mexicans being courteous to one another as they navigate the traffic and construction. 

KOB 4 checked things out around 10 a.m. Wednesday, and even then we did hit some traffic. It took us 12 minutes to clear the sinkhole from the Big-I. 

We also spoke to another woman who says she almost missed her appointment last week because she wasn’t expecting that much of a delay. 

“I’m not very good at subbing in extra time. But, you know, I was born and raised here, so I know all the ins and outs and roundabouts. But it would be really hard for someone just traveling through, you know, so I hope they get it fixed soon,” said Peggy Moore.