Beginning on Monday, April 26, all traffic bound from Interstate 10 to the Bridge of the Americas will once again travel north on US 54 and utilize the Pershing Drive turnaround before traveling south on US 54 to access Juárez.
This temporary change in traffic control is in response to long backups which have delayed cross-town and even cross-country traffic on I-10 in El Paso in recent weeks.
“This temporary change will not eliminate construction-related back-ups at the Spaghetti Bowl, rather it will relocate them from westbound I-10 to southbound US 54,” said Jorge Oregel, P.E., I-10 Connect Project Manager. “Because it carries fewer automobiles each day than I-10, US 54 will be better able to accommodate the delays for Juárez-bound traffic which are expected to continue throughout the construction of this project. As a result, motorists on southbound US 54 are encouraged to reduce their speed, use extra caution and be prepared to stop when approaching the Spaghetti Bowl.”
In the current configuration, all traffic bound from eastbound I-10 and westbound I-10 to the Bridge of the Americas and US 54 is using a single ramp, contributing to the long backups.
“It is also important for commuters in El Paso and Juárez to remember the primary purpose of the I-10 Connect project is to connect I-10 and Loop 375 in Central El Paso,” Oregel said. “While the project will add storage capacity for southbound vehicles approaching the Bridge of the Americas, reducing crossing times is not one of the project’s goals.”
All ramps from I-10 and US 54 to Juárez are now scheduled to permanently open later this year. In the meantime, the following detours will be in place for traffic bound for the Bridge of the Americas:
