This year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will have new improvements such as more parking spots, restroom options and security efforts to “enhance the guest experience.”
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Transportation Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna and leaders of the Balloon Fiesta announced Thursday additions for this year’s fiesta.
The fiesta will be held from Oct. 5, through Oct. 13, and will launch more than 500 balloons. The improvements were funded from a $15 million capital outlay bill for Balloon Fiesta Park.
Keller announced the fiesta now has a new parking lot — the former parking lot for Honeywell Building Solutions — for guests with about 1,650 parking spaces.
The Balloon Fiesta Park has new plumbing systems and electric infrastructure that will reduce generator use. There are new restroom trailers that each have four flushable stalls — 30 stalls in total. Keller said he hopes to have permanent restrooms for next year’s event.
There are also 19 new security cameras around the park and a new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalk.
“The whole project is actually only half done, the rest of it should be done next year,” Keller said.
Serna said all three lanes in “both directions on I-25 will be open the entire time of the Balloon Fiesta.” He said contractors may be on site doing some work but “none of that will result in any lane reductions or lane closures.”
Serna also said the interchange at Comanche Road will be reduced to one lane in both directions and asked drivers to give themselves extra time because of the reduced speed limit.