BELEN—The city of Belen’s list of infrastructure priorities includes everything from a new wastewater treatment plant to road improvements.  

The Belen City Council recently approved it Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan, which prioritized projects from 2025 to 2029. 

Belen City Hall

The first and top priority the city of Belen wants to tackle is the rehabilitation of the wastewater treatment plant. In total, the city estimates the project to cost $13,340,000 — with a request of a little more of $1 million for the first year, $3.3 million for the second year, $3.8 million in the third year and $5.1 million in 2028.  

The city’s second priority is the construction of the north Belen interchange, which is estimated to cost $9 million.  

The city was given $565,000 to plan, design and construct a westward connector at the north interchange at Interstate 25 Exit 195 in 2022. The access to the 6,000-acre Rancho Cielo master-planned area, west of Interstate 25 starting in front the north interchange to just south of El Cerro de Los Lunas, will make this project eligible for the level of state and federal funding necessary for actual construction.  

The third priority for the city of Belen is a joint effort with all other municipalities and Valencia County for radio communications upgrade for public safety equipment. The project has already received $700,000 but city officials will be asking up to $1.2 million.  

No. 4 on the city’s list is roadway improvements. The city is hoping to receive a total of $4.5 million in the next several years to complete different roadway projects.  

The fifth ICIP priority is $292,000 worth of improvements at the Belen Community Center and Eagle Park.  

In 2021, the state Legislature allocated nearly $1 million for the city’s largest park for improvements, fencing and trails. The legislators also allocated $100,000 to improve the Belen Veterans Memorial located at the park.  

Other projects on Belen’s ICIP, include:  

  • Wastewater collection system: $1 million
  • SCADA and GIS asset inventory system: $1,278,000
  • Firefighting ladder truck: $2 million
  • Historic facilities rehabilitation (Harvey House roof): $450,000
  • Camino del Llano rehabilitation: $3,925,000
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Clara Garcia | News-Bulletin Editor

Clara Garcia is the editor and publisher of the Valencia County News-Bulletin.
She is a native of the city of Belen, beginning her journalism career at the News-Bulletin in 1998 as the crime and courts reporter. During her time at the paper, Clara has won numerous awards for her writing, photography and typography and design both from the National Newspaper Association and the New Mexico Press Association.