Roads Of Resilience: Life On New Mexico’s Unpaved Highways
The Reality Of Unpaved Roads In New Mexico: New Mexico has one of the highest percentages of unpaved roads in the United States. Roughly 75 percent of its road network is made of dirt or gravel rather than asphalt. These roads are common in rural and remote areas where paving costs are high and traffic is light. For many residents, unpaved roads are a normal part of daily life. They connect homes, farms, tribal lands, and small communities to main highways. While these roads may seem simple, they require constant care to stay safe and usable.