ABC-7 LISTENS: No school zone in front of Montwood High School

For many drivers, the morning commute includes the sight of yellow flashing lights as they slow down through school zones.

In front of Montwood High School, along the 12000 block of Montwood Drive, there is no school zone. There are only black and white signs with a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour.

A concerned viewer noticed and sent ABC-7 an e-mail, citing safety concerns for students.

ABC-7 reached out to the Socorro Independent School District and found out it is not an uncommon circumstance.

Tom Eyeington, SISD chief operations officer, said the district bought the land to build Montwood H.S. in the late 1980’s. He said there used to be a school zone until the City of El Paso removed it.

Eyeington said the city put up traffic signals at Bob Mitchell Dr. and Montwood; and Firehouse Dr. and Montwood Dr. to manage the traffic flow.

Bob Mitchell and Firehouse drives do have school zones, forcing drivers to slow down to 15 miles per hour.

In order to get a school zone in place again, the school would have to make a request to SISD officials.

“We would send that request to the city’s traffic and engineering departments. They would do a study and determine if we need to add flashers,” Eyeington said.

It’s not an uncommon circumstance, according to Eyeington.

Americas High School located on the 12000 block of Pellicano also doesn’t have a school zone, but there are traffic signals along the high-traffic street.