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Albuquerque, NM — A recent investigation has revealed a critical concern in New Mexico: the safety of its aging bridges. With over 4,000 bridges statewide, more than 220 are currently classified as structurally deficient, prompting urgent calls for repair and maintenance. The deterioration of these structures, including exposed rebar, significant cracks, and corrosion, poses risks to residents and travelers.
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has acknowledged that budget limitations and resource constraints have made it difficult to address these issues comprehensively. However, state officials are committed to finding innovative solutions to enhance public safety and infrastructure management.
After watching a news segment shared by Evan Williams, Executive Director of the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, which highlighted the deteriorating state of the bridges, Sajid Modan, CEO of the Catalyst Group, quickly arranged an in-person meeting with Williams and Anthony Dimas, McKinley County Manager and his staff to tour the bridges. In just a few hours, the group developed an accelerated environmental project plan to address urgent needs of 5 bridges that needed repair.
“It was heartbreaking to see that emergency responders couldn’t cross these bridges in a crisis. We witnessed school buses unwilling to cross the bridge and drop children off, and if their parents weren’t there to pick them up, they would have to walk up to 8 miles home in the sweltering heat. We knew we had to take swift action,” said Sajid Modan, CEO of the Catalyst Group. “NEPA360 is revolutionizing our approach to infrastructure projects. By combining advanced technology with regulatory processes and leveraging our environmental expertise, we are helping states like New Mexico move from concern to action, ensuring that critical infrastructure remains safe for everyone.”
School buses, unable to cross the bridge, dropping children off.
Sajid Modan, CEO of the Catalyst Group with Rodney Skersick, Roads Superintendent
NEPA360, a groundbreaking service created by the Catalyst Group, a global environmental sustainability firm, demonstrates a successful model for proactive infrastructure management. The service simplifies the environmental review process for projects like bridge repairs and replacements, helping organizations accelerate timelines and funding, cut costs, and improve compliance with environmental regulations. One example of NEPA360’s success is seen in a recent 5-bridge rehabilitation project in McKinley County. The service enabled officials to complete environmental assessments and secure necessary approvals in record time, reducing the review period from several months to just a few weeks. This expedited process will allow for the swift repair of a bridge deemed critical for community safety, minimizing disruptions for residents and commuters.
Anthony Dimas, McKinley County Manager
Anthony Dimas, County Manager, highlighted the importance of adopting innovative solutions like NEPA360: “Our community deserves safe and reliable infrastructure. Leveraging technology and environmental experts from the Catalyst Group allows us to streamline processes, reduce costs, and ensure that our bridges and roads are safe for all residents of McKinley County.”
While addressing the challenges of McKinley County’s bridge infrastructure may seem daunting, the success of NEPA360 shows that innovation and collaboration can deliver meaningful results. State representatives are now advocating for increased collaboration with federal authorities and the adoption of modern technology to ensure immediate and effective action.
Evan Williams, Executive Director of the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, remarked, “Partnerships and innovation are key to overcoming our infrastructure challenges. NEPA360 gives us the tools to make informed decisions more quickly, which is crucial for the growth and safety of our region.”
NEPA360, developed by the Catalyst Group, is an advanced platform designed to streamline and expedite environmental reviews for infrastructure projects. By incorporating cutting-edge technology, the platform ensures regulatory compliance, cost reduction, and increased efficiency, setting a new standard for effective project management nationwide. This results in quicker federal funding of projects.
The Catalyst Group is a global Environmental, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHSS) firm with headquarters in New Brunswick, NJ and 5 additional offices with one in Asia.
Building on strong foundations of planning, institutional context, inter-agency collaboration and expertise, the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments (“COG”) has worked with the region’s local governments for over 40 years to support community development, promote strategic innovation and propel regional competitiveness. The COG has duel designation as a quasi-governmental regional planning agency for the State of New Mexico and economic development district for the US Government. As a membership association, the COG serves as a professional extension of its members, providing technical assistance to local entities across the many disciplines of governance.
About McKinely County, NM
McKinley County was created in 1901 and named for President William McKinley. Its population is approximately 74,923 with a total area of 5,455 square miles.
Over three-quarters of its population are Native American with residents from the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni tribes. The county seat is the Gallup, the most populous city between Flagstaff and Albuquerque along the historic U.S. Route 66.
Gallup is known as the “Heart of Indian Country” because it is on the edge of the Navajo reservation. As one of the oldest towns in the U.S., Gallup’s population can be traced back to 2500 BC with the settlement of the Anasazi in Canyon de Chelly. As a railhead for the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad that brought increased trading to the area, Gallup was then founded in 1881. In 1937, the El Rancho Hotel became the temporary home for many Hollywood stars as well as a stopping point for tourists driving on old Route 66. Because of the nearby rugged terrain, it was a popular location in the 1940’s and 1950’s to film Hollywood westerns.
Catalyst Group is a HubZone based minority-owned corporation based out of New Jersey with 6 global offices.
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