SR 118 to close near Church Rock, detour to I-40 through summer
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Road crews prepare for bridge replacement work along New Mexico State Road 118 near Church Rock, where traffic will be detoured to Interstate 40 for several months beginning Feb. 23, 2026. The closure between N.M. 566 and Navajo Boulevard will reroute drivers from Iyanbito and Fort Wingate while two new bridges are built over the South Fork of the Puerco River.
CHURCH ROCK, N.M.
Beginning Monday, motorists from the Iyanbito and Fort Wingate areas who use New Mexico State Road 118 to travel between Church Rock and Gallup will be detoured onto Interstate 40 for several months while crews replace an aging bridge east of N.M. 566.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation’s District Six office announced a full closure of N.M. 118 beginning Feb. 23 between N.M. 566 and Navajo Boulevard, about a mile and a half east of the bridge site.
Crews will remove existing structures and build two new bridges over the South Fork of the Puerco River near Church Rock. Eastbound and westbound traffic will be rerouted to I-40 during the project.
McKinley County Sheriff James Maiorano III said N.M. 118 will be blocked at Exit 33, the Fort Wingate exit. He said employees who work at the old Fort Wingate Army Depot will be the only traffic allowed through to reach their worksite.
Transportation officials expect the closure and detour to remain in place through the summer.
The project is being completed by the Department of Transportation and its contractor, Siete Inc., as part of broader roadway improvements along the corridor. Work is scheduled Monday through Friday during daylight hours.
N.M. 118 serves as a primary local route for residents of Church Rock and nearby Navajo communities, including Iyanbito and Fort Wingate. Many rely on the road for daily travel to Gallup for work, school, medical care and shopping. Officials advise drivers to allow extra travel time and follow posted detour signs.
State transportation officials said replacing the bridge will improve safety and long-term reliability at the South Fork Puerco River crossing, an area that has faced drainage issues and structural wear over time.
N.M. 118 from east of Gallup to N.M. 566 has been under construction for several months as crews continue upgrades to the busy route.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow