State Road 45 - Coors Boulevard

New Mexico State Road 45 is an arterial route extending north from Iseleta Pueblo to Albuquerque and Rio Rancho. A multi-level interchange joins the highway with Interstate 40 on the West Side of Albuquerque. Coors Boulevard serves a variety of suburban and industrial development south of Central Avenue (Historic U.S. 66). Northward, NM 45 constitutes the main retail corridor to Cottonwood Mall and NM 528 at Rio Rancho.

New Mexico State Road 45 Guides

• North
• South

Coors Boulevard was realigned westward from Eduardo Road north to Central Avenue in 1988. The previous alignment was renamed Old Coors Drive, and subsequently reconstructed into a five lane boulevard during a year long $5 million project finished on May 12, 1999.¹ The north end of Coors Boulevard separates from NM 45 along the east side of Cottonwood Mall. Signed as NM 448, this section of the arterial extends north to NM 528 (Alameda Boulevard) at Corrales Road. NM 45 shifts west around the mall along Coors Bypass, a six-lane roadway built in 1996.

The Coors Corridor Plan established in 1984 addresses increasing traffic congestion along an 11 mile stretch of NM 45 between Bridge Boulevard and NM 528 (Alameda Boulevard). Options considered include adding dedicated bus lanes, constructing a grade separated interchange at Montaño Boulevard and extending the elevated roadway of NM 45 north from I-40.¹

Started in December 2004, a $91 million project rebuilt the interchange joining Interstate 40 with Coors Boulevard into a multi level junction. 18 months of construction upgraded the 1960-built exchange, with three flyovers added and left side ramps eliminated. The ramps from I-40 east to NM 45 north and from NM 45 north to I-40 west opened to traffic following a ceremony held by state leaders at the site on May 26, 2006. Two additional ramps debuted to motorists on June 1, 2006.²

Connect with:
Interstate 40
Historic U.S. 66
State Road 423 - Paseo del Norte
State Road 500

Page Updated 06-24-2019.