Construction Set to Begin on Highway 128 This Month
By John Earp
We appreciate your patience as Constructors, Inc. works to improve roadways in Lea County.
This past Monday in the Jal Community Center, representatives from the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration gave citizens an update on the long-awaited construction project intended to widen the existing lanes on Highway 128 (Kansas Ave) through Jal. The scope of the proposed project also includes improvements on the intersections of Highway 18, Battle Ax Road, Delaware Basin Road, and Diamond Road with NM Hwy 128 to the west of Jal, and will result in Hwy 128 west of Jal becoming a four-lane divided highway. The total project is scheduled to begin on March 27th, and is projected to be completed by Summer 2028, weather permitting. General work hours will be from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
The first phase of construction, widening the current westbound lane of 128 through town, and which is planned to last more than a year, will involve expanding the north side of Kansas Ave/Hwy 128 through Jal, and will include new storm drainage, sidewalks, curbs and gutters. Pedestrian access will be maintained on the south side of Kansas while the north side construction is being completed.
The second phase of construction, which is planned to last from Spring 2027 through Summer 2027, weather permitting, will involve the widening of the center turning lane through town. During this second phase, pedestrian access will be maintained on the north and south sides of NM 128. The third phase of construction will involve the south side of Kansas/128 through town, and is scheduled to last from Summer 2027 through Summer 2028.
During all these phases, NM 128 through town will be reduced to two lanes while construction is being performed. Left turns onto NM 128 will only be allowed on Schooley Road, NM 18, Third Street, and Wyoming Road (formerly known as Dump Ground Road).
The railroad crossing construction on NM 128 will result in a complete but temporary 3- to 5-day closure of NM 128 at the tracks. Detour routes will be shared prior to railroad construction, and may be different for eastbound and westbound traffic, according to the material handed out by representatives of NMDOT at the meeting last Monday. The detour maps provided in the NMDOT handout depict the eastbound detour involving traffic being rerouted north on Third Street to NM 18, then south to the intersection of 18 and 128. The westbound detour map details that traffic will be routed south on NM 18 at 128 to Merryman, north on Third to Wyoming, then north to 128.
The work zone speed limit during all phases of construction will be 25 mph, with speeding fines doubled for violators. Constructors, Inc. will be the contractor for the project.
Notably, the project on NM 128 through Jal will not result in any additional traffic lanes through Jal, but will merely widen the existing three lanes, even though outside the city limits, the NMDOT plans to expand Hwy 128 into a four-lane divided highway. Also of note is the fact that the NMDOT will not be installing traffic lights until the road construction through town is completed.
A notice was posted to Facebook earlier this week by Constructors, Inc., concerning the project, which stated:
Constructors, Inc. will be starting two major roadway improvement projects in the Jal area and along NM 128, including work at the 128 intersections (Diamond, Brininstool, Delaware Basin, and Battle Axe) and the Downtown Jal NM 128 corridor.
These projects will include roadway widening, drainage, utility upgrades, sidewalks, and overall infrastructure improvements to better serve the community.
Start Date: March 27, 2026
Work Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 AM – 6 PM
Work will take place in phases; access to local businesses will remain open.
Drivers can expect construction activity through 2027 (weather permitting). Updates on detours, traffic changes, and major switchovers will be shared throughout the duration of the projects.
Stay updated on road conditions: https://nmroads.com
Reminder:
• Slow down in work zones (25 MPH)
• Follow all signage and traffic control
• Be mindful of workers and other drivers
• Plan for extra travel time
• Work zones are double fine zones