The NMDOT is preparing to replace an existing at-grade railroad crossing in Belen, New Mexico.  The crossing is located at the intersection of NM Highway 109, also known as Jarales Road, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railway east of BNSF’s Belen railyard.   The project area starts near Trujillo Road at milepost 5.25 and extends north along NM 109 to milepost 6.0 near Camino de Crystal. NM 109 currently crosses three BNSF railway tracks as an undivided at-grade signalized crossing.  Trains move in both directions at the crossing, and although daily traffic varies, Federal Railroad Administration data (2019) shows the average daily count as 90 trains per day, some of which are nearly two miles long (10,000 feet).  Existing usage on NM 109 includes police, fire, and emergency service vehicles, truck traffic from local industry, local business, residential, and commuter traffic. Vehicles on NM 109 currently experience delays as trains cross the highway throughout the day.

The NM 109 grade separation project will accommodate BNSF’s plan to construct additional sets of tracks for added rail capacity and to expand railyard operations. Due to concerns regarding increased rail traffic volumes, public access, and emergency service response times, BNSF and the NMDOT have agreed that a grade-separated crossing is needed.

Project Resources