Expect more delays as streetcar project work continues

EL PASO, Texas – Vital work for the El Paso Streetcar project will start Monday with crews laying down new rails and moving power lines.

Paso del Norte Trackworks crews will begin laying down rail 24 hours a day, seven days a week starting at Kansas and Santa Fe streets through their Paisano Drive intersection. El Paso Electric will also start relocating overhead utilities on Father Rahm Avenue.

Access on Father Rahm Avenue will be limited at 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. for construction, from Santa Fe Street extending halfway past Campbell Street. El Paso Electric spokesman Eddie Gutierrez said they are asking the public for patience during the construction.

“The repairs are around extending the height of the transmission lines in that area, or building the streetcar,” Gutierrez said.

Jesus Macias is the general manager of Viva Natural La Bodega on Father Rahm Avenue. He said the last time the avenue was closed it was detrimental to his business.

“A whole year it was closed, and it was been our worst year ever,” said Macias.”Another six more week, it’s getting bad, really bad.

The most complex rail of the nearly five-mile route will be installed on Santa Fe Street between Father Rahm Avenue and Paisano Drive. That is where curved rail for the “switching mechanism” will be placed, allowing street cars to enter and exit the Maintenance and Storage Facility, which is under construction next to Sun Metro’s Burt Williams Downtown Transfer Center.

With the planned closure of Santa Fe Street, many area businesses are concerned how their business will fair with reduced traffic.

Cristina Gonzalez works Custom Cash Credit, right next to a blaring construction site. She said in addition to construction, available parking has decreased near her office .

“People don’t want to stop by because of the traffic, the congestion.”

Beginning Monday, January 16, Paisano Drive will be closed closed to thru traffic between Chihuahua and El Paso streets. Santa Fe Street closed to thru traffic between Father Rahm Avenue and Overland Avenue. Both closures are scheduled through January 31.

If you use Paisono Drive on your daily commute, you will be redirected onto a marked east-west alterate route on San Antonio Avenue. Downtown commuters, who normally use streets in the area, to connect between Interstate 10 and Loop 375 will be re-routed onto marked north-south alternate routes on Mesaor Campbell streets.

During peak times, off-duty police officers will be stationed at key intersections to direct traffic.