New Mexico Seeks $113 Million for Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Safety Net
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is requesting $113 million to install a safety net at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, a change from a previous plan to raise railings.
Albuquerque Santa Fe, NM, October 22, 2026 —
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is requesting $113 million to install a safety net at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, according to the information provided. The request marks a change from a previous plan to raise the bridge’s railings.
The information does not specify who would approve or provide the requested funding, or whether the request has been approved. It also does not give a timeline for a decision or for the proposed installation. The department’s stated proposal is to install a safety net; details about its design, dimensions and how it would be installed were not provided.
The earlier plan to raise railings is mentioned, but the information does not explain when that plan was made, why the approach changed, or whether any work on it had begun. It also does not say whether raising the railings remains under consideration alongside the safety-net proposal.
No further details were provided about the department’s rationale for seeking the change, the estimated project schedule, or the status of any required reviews or approvals. The $113 million figure is the amount being requested, not confirmation that funding has been awarded or that construction is underway.
For now, the available information establishes the proposed funding amount, the bridge involved and the shift from raising railings to installing a safety net. The next steps, decision-making process and any implementation details have not been provided.
Story summarized from the original created by Bianca Hoops on www.krqe.com, see more information here.
Media gallery
