Albuquerque, NM Traffic Cameras: 170++ Live Cams

Coverage Areas

Driving the Duke City: Key Corridors

Albuquerque sits at the crossroads of I-25 and I-40 in central New Mexico, making it one of the most important highway junctions in the American Southwest. The city stretches along the Rio Grande Valley from Bernalillo in the north to Los Lunas in the south, flanked by the Sandia Mountains to the east and a volcanic escarpment to the west. This geography funnels traffic onto a limited number of river crossings and mountain passes, concentrating congestion at predictable bottlenecks.

I-25 is the primary north-south artery, carrying commuters from the growing bedroom communities of Rio Rancho and Bernalillo into downtown Albuquerque and the I-40 corridor. The stretch between Paseo del Norte and the Big I interchange handles the heaviest volumes, with I-25 and I-40 both processing over 200,000 vehicles daily according to NMDOT data. Morning rush building from 7:00 to 9:00 AM as workers face an average commute time of 23.2 minutes (MRCOG/Census).

Morning rush building from 7:00 to 9:00 AM as workers head south toward downtown, UNM, Kirtland Air Force Base, and Sandia National Laboratories.

Users can also monitor live street feeds along Central Avenue and Coors Boulevard to navigate around surface street congestion near the Rio Grande crossings. The evening rush reverses this pattern from roughly 4:00 to 6:30 PM as traffic pushes north toward Rio Rancho and the Northeast Heights.

I-40 runs east-west through the heart of the metro, connecting the West Side neighborhoods (west of the Rio Grande) with the Northeast Heights, Nob Hill, and UNM area. East of the city, I-40 climbs through Tijeras Canyon toward the East Mountains communities of Tijeras, Cedar Crest, and Edgewood. This canyon section is particularly vulnerable to weather-related closures, as winter storms can bring ice and snow at the higher elevations even when Albuquerque proper remains clear.

Big I Interchange

The Big I is the defining traffic feature of Albuquerque. This massive five-level stack interchange connects I-25 and I-40 in the geographic center of the city, and its performance essentially dictates the state of traffic regionwide. The interchange was rebuilt in the early 2000s to handle growing volumes, but its complexity means that even minor fender-benders on the ramps can create significant backup in all directions.

The I-25 southbound to I-40 eastbound ramp and the I-40 westbound to I-25 northbound ramp see the heaviest congestion during evening rush, as commuters heading from downtown toward the Northeast Heights and East Mountains converge. Monitoring the Big I cameras before departing is essential for choosing between I-40 through the interchange or surface street alternatives like Central Avenue, Lomas Boulevard, or Menaul Boulevard.

Paseo del Norte and Northern Metro

Paseo del Norte serves as the primary east-west freeway for the northern half of the metro area, connecting the rapidly growing West Side and Rio Rancho communities to the Northeast Heights and the I-25 corridor. The Paseo del Norte/I-25 interchange is a chronic congestion point, particularly during morning rush when westside commuters funnel onto I-25 south. The stretch from Coors Boulevard to the Rio Grande bridge also experiences regular delays as traffic crosses the river.

North of Paseo del Norte, Alameda Boulevard provides an alternative east-west route, though it operates as a surface arterial with traffic signals. The Journal Center business park area, located near the I-25/Paseo del Norte interchange, generates substantial commercial traffic during business hours, adding to the congestion at this critical junction.

Rio Rancho, Albuquerque's rapidly growing neighbor to the northwest, sends tens of thousands of commuters into Albuquerque daily. Most of this traffic enters via NM 528 (also known as Pat D'Arco Highway) connecting to Paseo del Norte, or via NM 550 connecting to I-25 near Bernalillo. The limited number of routes between Rio Rancho and Albuquerque means that incidents on any single corridor can create severe delays across all alternatives.

West Side and River Crossings

The West Side neighborhoods west of the Rio Grande have experienced explosive growth over the past two decades, but the number of river crossings has not kept pace. Traffic from the West Side must cross the Rio Grande via Paseo del Norte, Montano Road, I-40, or Bridge Boulevard to reach employment centers on the east side of the river. During peak hours, all of these crossings experience congestion, with Paseo del Norte and I-40 carrying the heaviest volumes.

Coors Boulevard runs north-south along the West Side, serving as the primary arterial for communities from the North Valley through the South Valley. This corridor sees heavy traffic throughout the day, with particularly dense volumes near its intersections with Paseo del Norte, Montano, and I-40.

Weather Impacts on Albuquerque Traffic

Albuquerque's high desert climate creates several distinct weather-related traffic challenges throughout the year.

Monsoon Season (July-September): The North American Monsoon brings intense afternoon thunderstorms that can drop heavy rain in short bursts. Flash flooding is a serious concern, particularly in arroyos (dry washes) that cross major roads. The arroyos that run through the city, including the North Diversion Channel and numerous smaller washes, can flood rapidly and close road crossings with little warning. Drivers should never attempt to cross flooded arroyos, as even shallow water can sweep vehicles away.

Dust Storms: Spring winds (March-May) regularly produce blowing dust that can reduce visibility to near zero on exposed stretches of I-25 and I-40, particularly south of the city and east of Tijeras Canyon. NMDOT posts variable message signs warning of dust storm conditions, and drivers should pull completely off the roadway if visibility drops.

Winter Ice on I-40 East: Tijeras Canyon between Albuquerque and the East Mountains frequently experiences black ice and snow during winter months, even when the city floor remains dry. The elevation change from approximately 5,000 feet in the city to over 6,500 feet at Tijeras Pass means that precipitation often falls as snow in the canyon while rain falls in the valley. NMDOT cameras through this stretch are essential for East Mountains commuters checking conditions before departure.

Sunport and Base Traffic

Albuquerque International Sunport generates concentrated traffic on I-25 and Gibson Boulevard, particularly during peak departure periods in early morning and late afternoon. The Sunport is located just south of Kirtland Air Force Base, and the Gibson Boulevard corridor between I-25 and the airport terminals sees steady commercial and military traffic throughout the day.

Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories together employ over 25,000 people, creating distinct traffic patterns on the south and southeast side of the city. The main gates along Gibson Boulevard, Wyoming Boulevard, and Eubank Boulevard experience rush-hour congestion as base and lab employees arrive and depart on relatively fixed schedules. Gate closures or security events can redirect thousands of vehicles onto alternative routes with little notice.

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About Albuquerque Traffic Cameras

TrafficVision.Live provides free access to 170+ live traffic cameras throughout Albuquerque. Our platform aggregates feeds from New Mexico 511 systems and New Mexico Department of Transportation cameras, giving you comprehensive coverage of traffic conditions across the metro area. These cameras are part of the world's largest traffic camera directory with 135,000+ live feeds from 600+ sources worldwide.

Whether you're planning your commute, checking current road conditions, or monitoring specific areas for traffic congestion, our Albuquerque traffic camera network provides real-time visibility into the region's transportation infrastructure. View live feeds from major routes including I-25, I-40, Paseo del Norte, Coors Boulevard, Tramway Boulevard, Montgomery Boulevard, San Mateo Boulevard, Louisiana Boulevard, and Central Avenue.

Our interactive map interface lets you quickly locate cameras near your route, while the grid view provides an organized way to browse all available feeds. Build custom routes to see all cameras along your commute, save favorites for instant access, and monitor multiple areas simultaneously to make informed travel decisions.

All Albuquerque traffic cameras are available 24/7 at no cost. Our platform is optimized for both desktop and mobile devices, ensuring you can check traffic conditions wherever you are.