Residents Voice Opinions About Transmountain Project Proposal

It’s rush hour in the Sun City. Even after a draining day at work, many traveling through west El Paso can’t ignore the warm purple and orange tones that seem to set the Franklin mountains ablaze, transforming the scenery as the sun goes down.

A different kind of transformation was discussed Tuesday night at Canutillo High School. A project to change Transmountain Road and they wanted the public’s opinion about the proposal.

The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing to add an elevated freeway that would connect Interstate 10 to the entrance of Tom Mays Park. The proposal also suggests frontage roads along with bicycle and hiking trails.

TxDot officials said the $79 million project is necessary to accommodate population growth and alleviate traffic congestion in that area.

At the public hearing, dozens showed up to see just what engineers had in mind. A long map covered several tables and videos showed renderings of how the project would look.

Amid the discussions of concern and intrigue, Scott Cutler examined the proposal. “It’s how it’s proposed to be widened that I have problems with,” he said.

Many thought the same. Several people held signs with ‘Save Our Mountain’ written on them, opposed to changing the scenery. Others explained more lanes were necessary, but said the solution TxDot was proposing wasn’t what they had in mind.

“I think it would be far better and more prudent to take this money and go over and use it for the Anthony Gap,” said Lynn Fitzgerald. “The Anthony Gap is a logical way to go. We need an alternative. We need to get traffic, especially trucks, out of the city,” he continued.

Concern also surrounded a left-hand turn from west Transmountain Road into Tom Mays Park. “People making a left turn to go into the park are going to have to make a left turn across two lanes of oncoming traffic, which sounds pretty dangerous to me,” Cutler said.

But transportation officials assured the turn would be safe. “The new design would accommodate a lot more room, a lot more sight distance to be able to make those movements. It is a limited amount of movements on the park road, but still, we need to provide for it,” said district engineer Chuck Berry.

During public commentary, one man suggested an overpass in that area so drivers would have a safe way to get to the state park. One after another, about 30 people gave TxDot officials feedback.

As many expressed their concern with the proposed project, others said construction couldn’t start soon enough. “I’m definitely in favor of the proposal improvements to Loop 375,” said Ester Harrison, who suggested this project should have been proposed 10 years ago. She said she often uses Transmountain Road to get from northeast El Paso to the west side and back.

“In the long run, it’ll greatly benefit everyone. Even the people who are trying to get to the northeast, to hike, they’re going to benefit as well from the improvements,” Harrison said. “I don’t think TxDot is trying to build a huge spaghetti bowl in the middle of the Franklin Mountains State Park.”

Transportation officials said they would evaluate the public feedback and decide what the next step would be for the project. TxDot has previously stated if a decision isn’t made soon, said project funding could be lost.