Subject: How to eat an elephant; What's up with Streetcar, because they want you to know they're closing lanes on Mesa when you're back from July 4 holiday; Just sit for five minutes and read this.

Post date: Jun 30, 2017 11:24:32 PM

Happy Fourth of July -- in advance!

Most work crews are taking Monday off, so that should be a relief to all of us. Remember when we first started talking about the GO10 project and we said that when we got to Sunland Park it was going to be really inconvenient? Well, turns out we have some pretty clever thinkers on the job, and they have figured out a way to sequence the phasing to minimize closures at that interchange. As Tim Twomey says, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

What we feared might be full weeks of continuous closures will now be broken up into bite-size pieces. Instead of cutting off Sunland Park completely and having all those retail entities lose accessibility, it comes down to intermittent overnight closures of some lanes on Sunland Park, and a series of overnight closures on I-10, with the simple detour of off ramp/traffic signal/on ramp. It will cost a little bit more, but it puts the mobility of El Paso drivers first. Cost savings from other innovations have afforded the ability to spend here without going over budget. Clever, indeed. Some of these closures are happening next week.

For structures (bridges, ramps) first come columns, then caps, then beams. At the Mesa interchange, they are still working on columns, while at Sunland they are already placing beams. That’s what the closures are for, starting Wednesday night. We lived through the daytime lane closure on Mesa earlier this week, and next week, the lane closure moves up under I-10, which shouldn’t be as bad. Expect those overnight full closures of I-10, first westbound (7/5), then eastbound (7/6 and 7/9), plus Sunland Park northbound on Sunday night (7/9). Meanwhile, as the westbound CD lanes take shape, there will be a nighttime lane reduction next week (7/6) on I-10 westbound from Schuster to beyond Executive Center. Streetcar will have Mesa down to one lane in each direction at Glory Road/Baltimore starting July 5, but Paisano will be back open from downtown to Spur 1966, so if you don’t have enough sense to be home before 9PM, you should at least have enough sense to find an alternate route.

Speaking of Streetcar Project: I share their release at their request, because the work they are about to do, pulling track across Mesa, is going to be a real pinch-point for you for most of the rest of the summer. It’s the only way. They recommend Stanton and Sun Bowl as alternate routes. Scroll down below the brief BWE information so you’ll be up to speed about slowing down. Haha, see what I did there? There’s an illustration attached. We are taking a summer vacation, aren’t we?

Heads up: Border West is looking at closing down Loop 375 for the full weekend of 7/14-7/17 from Santa Fe to US-54, so you’ll be hearing more about that. The rest of the work they’re doing won’t affect traffic much…yet. It’s a lot, I know, but you only need to focus on what affects your commute. Xxoo.

Crews will erect beams for the new Sunland Flyover Ramp.

Northbound lanes on Sunland Park Drive will close Sunday night.

Mesa @ I-10

Daytime

Wednesday, July 5 through Friday, July 7

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day

The right lane on North Mesa Street (SH 20) – in the direction headed toward Remcon – will close underneath the I-10 Overpass between North Desert and South Desert boulevards.

Crews will work on bridge columns.

I-10 & Executive

One Night

Thursday, July 6

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

I-10 Westbound will be reduced to two lanes between the Schuster Entrance Ramp and 1,300 yards after the Executive Center Overpass.

Crews are building new I-10 lanes.

I-10 & Sunland

One Night

Wednesday, July 5

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

I-10 Westbound will completely close at the Sunland Exit Ramp (Exit 13).

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

Crews will erect steel beams for the new Sunland Park Flyover Ramp to I-10 East.

Two Nights

Thursday, July 6 and Sunday July 9

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

I-10 Eastbound will completely close at the Sunland Exit Ramp (Exit 13).

The Sunland Flyover Entrance Ramp to I-10 East will be closed.

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

Crews will erect steel beams for the new Sunland Park Flyover Ramp to I-10 East.

One Night

Sunday, July 9

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

Sunland Park Drive (northbound lanes) will completely close between the Sunland/Paisano intersection and Sunland Park Mall.

Detour: Since the Sunland Park Overpass across I-10 will impassable, vehicles on Sunland Park Drive (coming from Doniphan Dr) will have to turn right on Paisano Drive and enter I-10 East. Vehicles will exit at Executive Center (Exit 16), then take Executive Center Boulevard to North Mesa Street (SH 20). Finally, vehicles will take North Mesa Street (SH 20) to Sunland Park Drive.

Crews will erect steel beams for the new Sunland Park Flyover Ramp to I-10 East.

Two-Week Look Ahead

Closures below this line continue to develop. Details such as dates are being finalized and could change; however, in an effort to provide information as far in advance as possible, we offer the following still-developing information:

One Night

Tuesday, July 11

9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

I-10 in both directions will completely close at the Sunland Park Exits (Exit 13).

Two Nights

Wednesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 13

9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

I-10 Westbound will completely close at the Sunland Park Exit (Exit 13)

All closure start times and end times are approximate.

All closures are subject to change

BORDER WEST EXPRESSWAY

Santa Fe Street

Remains closed to Saturday, July 22 (this date is a moving target, every week it’s different)

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

Westbound from Loop 375 to Calleros Court

Closure is needed for utility work.

I-10

Monday, July 10

9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Eastbound left lane from Executive Center Blvd. to Schuster Ave.

Closure is needed for roadway work.

Future Closures, subject to change:

Loop 375

Friday, July 14, to Monday, July 17

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

Eastbound and westbound from Santa Fe Street to US 54.

Closure is needed for utility work

Monday, July 17, to Thursday, July 20

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

Eastbound and westbound from Santa Fe Street to US 54.

Closure is needed for utility work

Mesa Street lane closures enter next phase;

Stanton, Santa Fe Streets reopen to two-way traffic

Two important north-south thoroughfares will re-open to two-way traffic by the end of this week, while lane restrictions will expand on Mesa Street as work at Glory Road/Baltimore Drive continues next week

Mesa Street at Glory Road/Baltimore Drive

Beginning at 6 am on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, Mesa Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction at Glory Road/Baltimore Drive as work there enters Phase II. In this phase, which lasts approximately three weeks, traffic will flow in a single inside lane in each direction. During Phase III, which lasts approximately four weeks, traffic will flow in a single outside lane in each direction.

During Phases II and III, Glory Road will remain closed to thru traffic between Oregon Street and Mesa Street while Baltimore Drive will remain closed to thru traffic between Mesa Street and Stanton Street. While traffic will flow in both directions on Mesa Street, motorists are encouraged to consider alternate routes such as Stanton Street and Sun Bowl Drive. Motorists will be able to access the Glory Road Transfer Center parking garage from Glory Road via Oregon Street. Pedestrian who usually cross Mesa at Baltimore/Glory, should consider alternate crossing locations.

While traffic will remain open to north-south traffic on Mesa, thru traffic should consider alternate routes such as Sun Bowl Drive and Stanton Street.

Stanton Street between Schuster Avenue and Yandell Drive

Stanton Street will re-open to two-way traffic between Schuster Avenue and Yandell Drive by Friday, June 30, 2017. Because work will continue on Stanton Street, two-way traffic will travel on the western side of the street between Montana Avenue and

Schuster Avenue. Between Schuster Avenue and Cincinnati Avenue, northbound traffic will travel on the easternmost side of the street while southbound traffic will travel on the westernmost side.

Santa Fe Street between Paisano Drive and Father Rahm Avenue

Santa Fe Street will re-open to at least one lane in each direction between Paisano Drive and Father Rahm Avenue by Friday, June 30, 2017. Also at this time, 4th Avenue will re-open to two-way traffic between El Paso Street and Santa Fe Street. As work continues on the Maintenance and Storage Facility, a southbound lane restriction will remain in place on Santa Fe Street near Sun Metro’s Bert Williams Downtown Transfer Center.

Traffic Impacts at Other Locations

The following traffic impacts will remain in place during the week of July 5, 2017:

Complete Closures

Stanton Street between Franklin Avenue and Yandell Drive

Oregon Street between Franklin Avenue and Yandell Drive

Lane Restrictions

Oregon Street between Nevada Avenue and Yandell Drive

Wyoming Avenue between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street

Yandell Drive between Kansas Street and Santa Fe Street

Guardrail Repair Project

Wednesday, July 5

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

Left lane closure on US 54 north between Mesquite Hills Dr and Stan Roberts Sr. Ave

Thursday, July 6

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

Left lane closure I-10 eastbound beginning at New Mexico State line to Anthony Entrance Ramp

Crews will be repairing damaged guardrail in the area.

Spalling Repair Project

Wednesday, July 5 through Thursday, July 6 (morning)

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

Complete closure on I-10 westbound at Viscount Overpass

DETOUR: Westbound traffic will exit at McRae exit ramp and travel onto Gateway West and re-enter at the Viscount Entrance ramp.

Maintenance

Monday, July 3, through Friday, July 7 (Tuesday, July 4, NO WORK CREWS)

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

Alternate lane closures on Fred Wilson Road between Carrington Road and Chaffee Road

Alternate lane closure on Dyer (BU 54) north and southbound between Quail Avenue and Sun Valley Drive

Left lane closure on I-10 westbound between McRae Boulevard and Paisano Drive, include the exit and entrance ramps will be closed

Left lane closure on Gateway West between Copia entrance ramp and Raynor Street

Right lane closure on Transmountain (Loop 375) eastbound between Tom Mays Park and the Main Gap (MM 17)

Paisano Landscaping Project

Monday, July 3, through Friday, July 7 (July 4, NO WORK CREWS) 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (throughout the day)

Alternate east and westbound lane closures on Paisano (US 62) between Eucalyptus Street and Montana Avenue

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)

915.373.7300 (c)

13301 Gateway Boulevard West

El Paso, TX 79928-5410