New road closure, new headache for drivers

Many drivers are hitting a new level of frustration with construction on Country Club Road in El Paso’s Upper Valley.

A new road closure at Montoya Drive and Country Club took effect Monday.

Drivers complained to ABC-7 that there aren’t enough signs indicating the intersection is closed, causing a lot of confusion.

“I wasn’t expecting this,” said one driver, who stopped his truck to talk to ABC-7 after making a U-turn at the barricaded intersection of Montoya and Country Club.

“It’s pretty frustrating,” said another driver, Fernie Parra. “Now I have to go all the way back to Doniphan and go to Sunland Park. And that’s going to make me spend another 20 minutes to get to where I need to be.”

The intersection of Montoya and Lindbergh Avenue is one point where drivers seem to be confused about whether they should go left or right to keep following the detour.

ABC-7 witnessed driver after driver make their way down Montoya only to stop in front of the barricade — and turn around.

“They need more signs in areas where you can foresee what’s coming up,” Parra said, adding, “rather than a sign right before you get to the closed area, and now you have to make a U-turn.”

“If the signage isn’t adequate, what we can do is double check and make sure the signage does adequately reflect the detours,” said Martin Bartlett, the spokesman for the city’s engineering department.

Bartlett said the closure is necessary to quickly reopen the westbound lanes of Country Club — something neighbors asked for at community meetings regarding the construction.

But Bartlett added, “The only reason you should be driving in those neighborhoods is if you live in those neighborhoods.”

The city is urging drivers who are trying to get from West El Paso to Santa Teresa to use the marked thru traffic detours, which include McNutt Road, Sunland Park Drive, Artcraft Road and Doniphan Drive.

The reconstruction of Country Club Rd. should be finished by February.