TxDOT project underway on U.S. 54 in northeast El Paso

Drivers in northeast El Paso will face with closures and detours in the coming months as the Texas Department of Transportation completes the U.S. 54 Widening and Illumination Project.

An extra lane of traffic will be added from Hondo Pass Avenue to Loop 375 Transmountain, and more lighting will be added to create better visibility.

Improvements to area intersections are planned, including turnarounds at Hondo Pass Avenue, Diana Drive and Loop 375 Transmountain.

TxDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Wright said the project will change entrance and exit ramps to improve the flow of traffic.

“What we’re doing is putting the off-ramp first and the on-ramp second, so that the merge action happens on the Gateway, where traffic is much slower,” said Wright. “It’s a much safer condition, and it won’t slow down traffic on the main lanes quite so much.”

Area residents can expect a two-mile shared-use northbound path from Hondo Pass to Transmountain.

The $35 million project started in November, and is expected to be complete by March 2019.

To keep up with all closures and detours around El Paso click here to be directed to the KVIA traffic page.