School closes shortcut for parents dropping off children at far east El Paso campus

The morning and afternoon commute at a far east El Paso campus was shifted after school officials closed off a dead end that was used as a student drop-off zone.

Commuters used the dead end to access Sun Ridge Middle School and Lujan-Chavez Elementary School from Tierra Este Road.

There are nearly 2,000 students that attend both campuses.

The dead end was recently blocked off with a fence and cars can longer drive through.

While it has inconvenienced some parents, Socorro Independent School District officials said student safety is a priority.

“We had concerned citizens and our administration noticed there is so much more traffic on Tierra Este. We have little ones that walk through that area so we wanted to make sure it was safe for them,” said Maribel Macias, assistant superintendent for administrative services at SISD.

Macias said a new system was implemented to control traffic in front of the campuses.

There is one way in and one way out said Macias.

“Before, when cars were coming through (the dead end) they would impede the flow. By using that fence, it allows us to have consistent flow all the way through and it’s actually very safe.”

James Gonzales, a father who walks his daughter to class every morning agreed the dead end was too dangerous for cars and pedestrians.

“It might not help the traffic flow, but it’s helping the kids.”

Now that the dead end is closed, he feels safer walking with his daughter. The school paved a sidewalk that cuts through the dead end wide enough for pedestrians only.

“That’s the easiest route to get to class,” said Gonzales, who lives east of Tierra Este Rd. along with dozens of families who commute to the school from the same neighborhood.

The City of El Paso Engineering and Construction Department has no plans to open up the dead end and make it a road. A spokesman told ABC-7 the property belongs to SISD, but not all of it.

Macias said part of that small piece of land has a different property owner and the district can’t pave the entire thing.

If an outlet to Tierra Este Rd. is in the works for the future, SISD would need consent from that property owner.

Macias added the district is working to track down the owner, but for now the fence at the dead end will remain up to keep students safe.