GO10 Updates from Jennifer Wright

Post date: Sep 15, 2017 11:59:37 PM

This Friday (9/15), Executive will be closed overnight and into Saturday from I-10 to Paisano.. It’s not the part most of us normally drive, but if you are going to be in the area Saturday morning, I want you to be aware, It’s the first time since we added that shoefly (the curvy detour that allowed Border West Expressway crews to build the new interchange there) that it’s being closed, so it may come as a surprise. Just for a few hours while they adjust the shoefly so they can get to work on the other side of Executive. I mention it first because it is upon us, and did not get mentioned last week. The rest of BWE is listed below, but mostly it’s same ol’, same ol’. Nothing compared to what GO10 has in store….

You can’t tell it by the weather this week, but Fall is fast approaching, and so GO10 is all about getting as much done as possible before Thanksgiving slows it all down (so as to not interfere with holiday esprit – and shopping). That means some of the inconvenient closures include overnight at Mesa under I-10, as well as I-10 East from Redd to Mesa, while they continue to set beams over Mesa. Also nightly closures on I-10 West will make you detour up Sunland and reenter the 10 at Mesa, maybe not as many nights as we list, but certainly Sunday. Extra nights listed below are contingencies. Plus, a daily lane closure (the “fast” one, no less) on I-10 East will slow things down all doggone day, all week next week, starting at 9AM daily. Do not expect that to be fewer days but hey, a girl can dream.

Now, as promised last week, I sat down with my mad algebra skills and figured out: How much time does speeding really save? (Providing one doesn’t crash or get stopped by the police, that is.)

Let’s say a person gets on I-10 from the upper valley headed for downtown El Paso. Hampered by the traffic congestion that is a daily occurrence at Sunland Park and feeling frustrated, once that clears up a little, one may attempt to make up for lost time by upping one’s speed above the posted 50 mph. From that point to downtown, it’s about four miles.

At 50mph, it would take 4.8 minutes. Speed up to 60, it’ll take 4 minutes, 48 seconds faster. Savings: less than a minute. Will it make a difference to your boss or employees? At 70mph, 4 miles takes 3.48 minutes, saving just over a minute and a half. That’s 92 seconds, if one can maintain 70mph without having to slam on the brakes; plus chances are it’ll take a fair amount of weaving, putting both driver and others in danger. How much does a speeding ticket cost, time and $? What’s a life worth? What about the increase in blood pressure, and all those feelings that take a toll on health and looks? That burst of speed is just ego running roughshod and honestly, it’s just plain rude. So, please, tell that speeder to grow up and get off my bumper. I won’t be in the passing lane holding anyone up: I’ll be over a lane or two focusing on deep breathing exercises.

Mesa 24/7

This closure is scheduled to open at 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18

  • The right through-lane on North Mesa Street (SH 20, eastbound) – in the direction moving toward Remcon Circle – will close between Osborne Drive and the I-10 Westbound Exit Ramp.

Crews will be working in shifts around the clock to prepare for placement of beams.

I-10 East @ Mesa

Daytime

Monday, Sept. 18 through Friday, Sept 22

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily

  • The left lane on I-10 Eastbound will close between the North Mesa Entrance Ramp and the Executive Center Overpass.

Two lanes on I-10 East will always remain open.. All entrance ramps and exit ramps will be open.

Crews will be cleaning storm drains and breaking illumination foundations.

I-10 West @ Sunland

Overnight

Sunday, Sept. 17 through Thursday, Sept. 21

9 p.m. each night to 6 a.m. each morning

  • I-10 Westbound will close completely between the Sunland Park Exit Ramp and the North Mesa Overpass.

Detour: I-10 Westbound traffic will exit at Sunland Park (Exit 13) to access North Mesa Street (SH 20), then take North Mesa Street (SH 20) to I-10 where traffic may re-enter I-10 West. Follow the detour signs in place.

Specialty crews are conducting pavement work.

Overnight

Monday, Sept 18

9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next morning

  • The Sunland Park Entrance Ramp to I-10 West will close.
  • The Sunland Park Flyover Entrance Ramp to I-10 East will close.

Crews will be placing bridge deck onto the all-new Sunland Park Flyover Ramp.

I-10 East @ Redd

Overnight

Monday, Sept. 18 through Thursday, Sept. 21

9 p.m. each night to 6 a.m. each morning

  • I-10 Eastbound will close completely between the Redd Road Exit (Exit 9) and the Resler Flyover Ramp.
  • North Mesa Street (SH 20) at the I-10 Overpass will be closed in both directions.
  • The North Mesa Entrance Ramp to I-10 Eastbound will close.

Detour: Traffic on I-10 East will exit at Redd Road (Exit 9), take Redd Road to Doniphan Drive, then take Doniphan Drive to Sunland Park Drive. Traffic may re-enter I-10 East at the Sunland Park Entrance Ramp. Follow the detour signs in place.

Note: For the last two nights of this four-night closure, the detour route may change. Follow the detour signs in place.

Crews will be setting numerous giant beams at the I-10/North Mesa interchange.

LONG-TERM CLOSURE

Sunland

24/7 – Until Further Notice

•The far-right lane on the two-lane Sunland Park Exit Ramp (westbound) will be closed 24/7 until further notice. The Sunland Park Westbound Exit Ramp will be open.

This closure is necessary to give crews access to the work site.

ALL CLOSURES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

All closure times are approximate.

Ramps may close up to 1 hour prior to the start time of an I-10 highway closure.

CLOSURE FORECAST

The following closures are tentative. Details such as dates and closure limits could change.

Overnight

Sunday, Sept. 24 through Tuesday, Sept. 26

9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

•I-10 Eastbound main lanes will close between the Sunland Park Exit and Entrance Ramps.

•Sunland Park Overpass closed in both directions.

Detour: Traffic will exit at Sunland Park (Exit 13) and immediately re-enter I-10 East at the next ramp.

Overnight

Monday, Sept. 25

9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

•The Sunland Park Entrance Ramp to I-10 Westbound will close.

•The Sunland Park Flyover Entrance Ramp to I-10 Eastbound will close.

Overnight

Wednesday Sept. 27 through Thursday Sept. 28

9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

•North Mesa Street (SH 20) at the I-10 Overpass will be closed in both directions

BORDER WEST EXPRESSWAY

Executive Center Blvd

From Friday, Sep.. 15 to Saturday, Sep. 16

9 p.m. to 5 p.m. (continuous full closure)

  • Westbound and eastbound from I-10 to US 85

Closure is needed for traffic shift.

US 85

Monday, Sep. 18 to Friday, Sep. 22

9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (nightly full closure)

  • Westbound and eastbound from Spur 1966 to San Francisco St.

Closure is needed for structure work

From Friday, Sep. 22 to Monday Sep. 25

9 p.m. to 5 p.m.. (continuous full closure)

  • Westbound and eastbound from Spur 1966 to San Francisco St.

Closure is needed for structure work

I-10

Sunday, Sep. 24

9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

  • Eastbound alternative lanes from Executive Center Blvd. to Schuster Ave.

Closure is needed for roadway work

Paisano Dr.

From Friday, Sep. 22 to Monday, Sep. 25

9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (continuous full closure)

  • Westbound and eastbound from Saint Vrain St. to Eucalyptus St.

Closure is needed for ​traffic switch

N. Kansas St.

From Monday, Sep. 25 to Monday, Oct. 02

9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (continuous full closure)

  • Southbound from Loop 375 to 7th Street

Closure is needed for ​utility work

Delta St.

Monday, Sep. 18 to Wednesday, Sep. 20

9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (Nightly full closure)

  • Eastbound and westbound from San Marcial St. to Coles St.

Closure is needed for structure work.

Spalling Repair Project

Sunday, Sept. 17 and Monday, Sept. 18 (for 2 nights only)

9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (the following morning)

  • Complete closure on I-10 westbound at the Airway overpass
  • Westbound Hawkins entrance ramp will be closed to I-10
  • Left lane closure on I-10 eastbound at the Airway overpass

DETOUR: Westbound traffic will need to exit at the Airway exit ramp and re-enter at the Airway entrance ramp

Tuesday, Sept. 19 through Thursday, Sept. 21

9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (the following morning)

  • Complete closure on I-10 westbound at the Geronimo overpass
  • Westbound Airway entrance ramp will be closed to I-10
  • Left lane closure on I-10 eastbound at the Geronimo overpass

DETOUR: Westbound traffic will need to exit at the Geronimo exit ramp and re-enter at the Geronimo entrance ramp

Crews will be repairing concrete potholes and concrete traffic barriers in the area.

Guardrail Repair Project

Monday, Sep 18

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (throughout the day)

  • Right lane closure on US 54 northbound between Hercules Avenue and Hondo Pass
  • Northbound Hondo Pass exit ramp will be closed

Tuesday, Sept 19

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (throughout the day)

  • Right lane closure on Gateway North between Broaddus Avenue and Weaver Street

Wednesday, Sept. 20

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (throughout the day)

  • Right lane closure on I-10 westbound between Piedras Street and Magnolia Street

Crews will be repairing damaged guardrail in the area.

Maintenance

Monday, Sept. 18 through Friday, Sept. 22

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (throughout the day)

  • Alternate shoulder closures on Franklin Avenue north and southbound between Doniphan (SH 20) and I-10
  • Alternate shoulder closures on Talbot Drive north and southbound between Doniphan (SH 20) and Spur 16
  • Alternate lane closures on Transmountain (Loop 375) east and westbound between the State Park (MM 14) to the Main Gap (MM 20)
  • Left lane closure on Desert North Boulevard between Oceanside Drive and Exit O “Zero”, to include the crossover underpass known as Chili Road
  • Left lane closure on Gateway East between the Copia entrance ramp and Boone Street
  • Right lane closure on Artcraft (SH 178) eastbound between Upper Valley Road and Doniphan Drive (SH 20), to include the Doniphan exit ramp
  • Right lane closure on McCombs (FM2529) northbound between Deer Street to Sean Haggerty Drive
  • Right lane closure on I-10 westbound between Raynolds exit ramp and Alamogordo exit ramp
  • Right lane closure at Piedras intersection, between Missouri and Gateway East

Please follow the detour signs in place on all projects.

All work is dependent upon weather conditions.

Safe Travels and Happy Trails,

Jennifer Wright

Public Affairs Officer, El Paso District

Jennifer.Wright3@txdot.gov

915.790.4340 (o)

915.201.9414 (c)

13301 Gateway Boulevard West

El Paso, TX 79928-5410