City announces closure of City Hall, South El Paso roads during pope’s visit to Juarez

The City of El Paso announced the closure of City Hall, city offices as well as several streets the day Pope Francis’ visit to Juarez.

City officials said during a news conference Tuesday that the changes are in the interest of public safety, health and welfare.

City council also approved city manager to sign all documents necessary for goods and services in excess of $50,000 for the papal event.

Mayor Oscar Leeser, as well as representatives from the city’s Emergency Management Department, fire department, police department, health department, Sun Metro and city manager’s office spoke Tuesday, each outlining what their respective departments have been working on these past weeks.

Pope Francis will visit Jurez on Feb. 17, and although he will not visit El Paso, city officials said due to the proximity of his motorcade route and Mass near the El Paso-Jurez border, they will restrict travel in Downtown and South-Central El Paso. Officials urged the public to avoid traveling to that area the day of the papal border visit.

ROAD CLOSURES
–Loop 375 (Border Highway) will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in both directions from U.S. 54 to Santa Fe Street for approximately a 24-hour period starting at 3 a.m. on Feb. 17, .
–Loop 375 from U.S. 54 to Yarbrough will be closed to all traffic from 10 a.m. until the Pope departs the Mass location and his motorcade travels away from roadways adjacent to the El Paso-Jurez.
-City streets in South-Central El Paso bounded by Loop 375 to the south, Campbell to the west, Paisano to the north and Coles/First to the east will have limited access to traffic starting at 3 a.m. Feb. 17. Access in the restricted area will be limited to residents and businesses.
-Once Pope Frances arrives at the Mass location in Jurez, no one will be allowed to leave or re-enter the restricted area until the pope departs the Mass.
–Campbell from Paisano to Interstate 10 will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 3 a.m. Feb. 17.
–Cotton from Paisano to I-10 will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 3 a.m. Feb. 17.
–Delta from Paisano to Boone will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 3 a.m. Feb. 17.
-The closures will remain until the Pope departs the Mass; Additional closures may be necessary should plans related to the papal border visit change.

INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES
-All international ports of entry in the region, including Paso Del Norte, Stanton Street, and Ysleta, will be open in both directions Feb. 17.
-The public is asked to plan ahead if traveling across the border. The Office of Emergency Management in El Paso recommends traveling across the border at least a day in advance for those planning on participating in papal events in Jurez.
-Customs and Border Protection will reroute commercial traffic on Feb. 17 from the Bridge of the Americas to Ysleta to assist with mitigating traffic.
-Anyone traveling across the border should carry a current passport or border crossing card.
-The public’s cooperation and patience will be appreciated at the Paso Del Norte, Stanton Street and Ysleta bridges as delays in getting through toll collection stations may occur due to the increase international travelers. Providing toll collectors with exact change will assist in keeping delays to a minimum. Debit and credit card payments will be accepted. Mexican currency will also be accepted. Fare information is available at www.elpasotexas.gov/international-bridges/fares.

SUN METRO
-Fixed routes will be serving customers traveling to downtown El Paso on Feb. 17. They will have extended hours on that day with the last buses leaving at 10:15 p.m. Several Sun Metro routes will be detoured as a result of the planned road closures. Service delays should be expected for all routes serving the Downtown Transfer Center. Information about detoured routes is available at www.pope915.com and may be obtained by calling (915) 212-3333.
-Park and Ride services will be available to the Sun Bowl on February 17, 2016. Park and Ride roundtrip fare to the Sun Bowl is $3. Exact change is required. Parking is free at Sun Metro lots. Departures to the Sun Bowl will be scheduled for every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at all locations. Park and Ride locations:

Eastside Transfer Center, 1165 Sunmount near Cielo Vista Mall
Far Eastside: Edgemere at R.C. Poe
Mission Valley Transfer Center, 9065 Alameda
Northeast Transfer Center, at Diana and Dyer
Al Jefferson Westside Transfer Center, 7535 Remcon

CITY OFFICE CLOSURES

The City of El Paso will be operating under a modified work week. All administrative offices will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The city is working on Friday in lieu of its regular Wednesday work day.

Essential personnel will follow a normal work schedule.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS:

The City of El Paso is hosting community meetings in South-Central to notify residents and businesses of traffic control plans impacting their neighborhoods. Three meetings will be held at the Armijo Recreation Center gymnasium at 700 E. Seventh Avenue. Meeting time and dates:

-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan, 27.
-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28.
-6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1.

The city is also setting up a website to answer any questions related to street or office closures during the pope’s visit.

You can find the website at www.pope915.com.

City officials say you can also get information on the pope’s visit through social media using the hashtag #pope915.