The US 491/Chino Road/Ninth Street intersection serves an important role in the transportation system of the City of Gallup, McKinley County, Four Corners region, and District 6 of the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT). The intersection provides access to the Gamerco community to the northwest along Chino Road and serves high traffic demands to and from Ninth Street to the southeast, especially on weekends.

This project involved intersection improvements to improve traffic operations and safety and a 5-mile extension of Carbon Coal Road to the west. The intersection was realigned to connect with Carbon Coal Road west of the intersection. Carbon Coal Road improvements involved upgrades and realignment of an existing gravel road to connect with a railroad spur 5 miles west of the intersection. Access was desired by the City of Gallup and McKinley County as part of regional economic development investments to improve intermodal goods transport from I-25 and US 491 to major rail corridors.