More to come for Spaghetti Bowl makeover

More than 200,000 vehicles travel through the Spaghetti Bowl at Interstate 10 and U.S. 54 every single day.

It’s hard to miss the many changes that have already taken place as part of a $25 million Texas Department of Transportation beautification project. But there’s more to come.

“I think it’s so beautiful, especially at night time,” said proud El Pasoan Susie Miranda. “It’s like I’m in another city. It’s wonderful. The kids enjoy it a lot. They’re like, ‘Oh look at the stars, Mom!’ We were even counting them the other day.”

Miranda said she’s curious what’s next for the area.

“I’ve heard nothing but positive comments,” said TxDOT Spokeswoman Blanca Del Valle. “Phase two involves landscaping, illumination, new walls, aesthetic walls, barriers and it’s between Chelsea and Copia.”

Rock walls are very unique to El Paso and one of the catchy aspects of the project is rocking in the exits. Del Valle says that should make the project much more of an El Paso thing.

“It’s unique to us, because we don’t have as much green landscaping as we would like,” she said.

Some exits will soon be landscaped and the Raynolds and Yandell exits will feature towers that will rise as high as 100-feet above the freeway.

“Phase three we’re going to see the towers go up,” Del Valle said. “They’ll be two towers at each location. We’re also going to have 11 bridges with new fencing, aesthetic fencing, from Missouri to Porfirio Diaz.”

Del Valle said phases two and three are on schedule and should be completed by the end of the year.

“This is a beautification project that I think the El Paso community will take great pride in,” she said.