Bernalillo County Gets $8M for South Valley Infrastructure

Bernalillo County has been awarded $8 million in federal funding to improve access to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque’s South Valley, according to a press release from Senator Martin Heinrich’s office.
Bernalillo County has been awarded $8 million in federal funding to improve access to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Albuquerque’s South Valley, according to a press release from Senator Martin Heinrich‘s office.
The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Land Access Program (FLAP), will be used to provide roadway improvements along 2nd Street SW and to build a new pedestrian and bike path to the refuge.
Expanded access to the refuge is expected to attract more local residents and tourists, boosting the local economy and promoting economic development throughout the surrounding neighborhoods, Heinrich’s office said.
“This federal investment will help improve access to the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge and allow for even more economic development and tourism opportunities in the region,” Heinrich added. “Second Street has long been in need of funding for infrastructure improvements. Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the overwhelming support and collaboration from the community to establish the Valle de Oro and is an indication of the return on investment that the refuge will continue to provide.”
The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge was established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in September 2012 and is the first designated urban national wildlife refuge in the Southwest.
By: Tina Orem (Albuquerque Business First)
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