No. Earlier renderings and public involvement materials showed a proposed alternative that was still under evaluation. Since that time, NMDOT and the project team have completed additional traffic and safety analyses, considered public comments, refined the design, and completed the project development process.

The project design has now been finalized and approved by NMDOT and its federal highway partners.

Public input identified concerns regarding Juniper Street access, neighborhood circulation, and emergency response. In response, the project team conducted additional traffic and safety analyses and made design refinements.
Traffic signal analyses were conducted for the US 180/14th Street, US 180/NM 90, and US 180/Swan Street intersections. These analyses modeled potential changes in traffic patterns resulting from modifications to intersection access, including traffic that could be diverted to surrounding streets.

The analyses evaluated whether motorists would continue to be able to make necessary turning movements and access surrounding side streets. The review also evaluated whether the proposed changes could create unintended safety or operational concerns.

In addition, the project team met with emergency responders to discuss whether the improvements could affect emergency response times. Emergency responders did not identify concerns regarding potential increases in response times.

Yes. Traffic circulation on surrounding roadways was specifically evaluated as part of the additional analysis.

The project team considered how changes in access could redistribute traffic and evaluated nearby intersections and alternate routes to determine whether the existing roadway system could accommodate anticipated traffic.

Yes. The traffic analyses used to model future traffic patterns included the Swan Street/19th Street alternate route.

While additional traffic is expected to use this intersection following construction of the improvements, the traffic model indicates that the existing infrastructure at Swan Street and 19th Street can accommodate the anticipated increase without causing significant backups during peak travel periods.

No. Improvements to Swan Street within the local neighborhood street system are not included in the current construction project.

NMDOT’s right-of-way does not extend into the local neighborhood street system. Potential traffic-calming measures or other improvements on local streets would therefore require coordination with the Town of Silver City.
NMDOT continues to coordinate with the Town regarding opportunities to improve safety and address concerns such as speeding or cut-through traffic within the neighborhood.

Yes. Although some existing access and turning movements will change with the new intersection configuration, the design maintains access to the surrounding street network through alternate routes.

Traffic analyses were conducted to evaluate these changes and determine whether vehicles would continue to be able to make the necessary movements to access surrounding streets.

Yes. The project team met with emergency responders to specifically discuss access and whether the proposed intersection changes could increase emergency response times.

Emergency responders did not identify concerns regarding potential increases in response times associated with the project.

The project includes upgraded bicycle and pedestrian facilities designed to improve safety and accessibility throughout the project area.

Improvements include upgraded ADA accessibility, enhanced crosswalks, sidewalk improvements, lighting improvements, new traffic signals, and other bicycle and pedestrian facility upgrades incorporated into the final design.

The intersection improvement project presented to the public will be constructed as one project rather than multiple construction phases.

Separately, an overall study is underway along US 180 from approximately milepost 111 to milepost 123. That study is evaluating other potential safety improvements along the US 180 corridor. It is separate from the upcoming intersection construction project, and no construction funding has been identified at this time for potential future projects resulting from that study.

The current construction project is funded through a combination of state and federal transportation funds.

The project is scheduled to go out to bid on September 18, 2026. Through the bidding process, a contractor will be selected, and the final construction contract amount will be established.

Construction is currently anticipated to begin December 2026 to January 2027. Additional information regarding the construction schedule will be available after the project is awarded and the contractor’s schedule is established.

Most construction activities are expected to be completed using single-lane closures, allowing traffic to continue traveling through the existing intersections.
However, some construction activities will require short-duration weekend closures and detours along portions of US 180. These closures are not anticipated to last longer than a few days at a time.

When temporary closures are required, detour routes are expected to utilize NM 90, US 180, and 14th Street.

Specific closure dates, times, and detour information will be communicated to the public as construction progresses.

The majority of construction is planned using single-lane closures rather than full roadway closures. This will allow traffic to continue moving through the project area during most construction activities.

When temporary closures or detours are necessary, NMDOT and the contractor will provide advance public notification and information regarding traffic impacts and alternate routes.

Yes. Public input received during the project development process identified concerns regarding neighborhood access, Juniper Street, traffic circulation, emergency response, and potential impacts to surrounding streets.

Those concerns resulted in additional traffic and safety analyses and were considered as the project design was refined.

The design of Phase 1 is complete and has been approved. The project is scheduled to go out to bid in September 2026, with construction currently anticipated to begin in Winter 2026/2027.

Once a contractor has been selected, additional information regarding the construction schedule, traffic impacts, temporary closures, and detours will be shared as those details become available.