Reminder: Wedgewood Drive at Montwood closes Monday

Wedgewood Drive just north of Montwood Drive will be closed for eight weeks beginning Monday, Oct. 27.

Traffic is already restricted to one lane for east and westbound drivers on Montwood Drive. Now, traffic heading north and southbound on Wedgewood Drive will also be impacted.

Those who drive through the busy east El Paso intersection told ABC-7 that they have gotten used to construction. That includes Mike Johns, a manager at an automotive shop on the northeast corner of the intersection.

“I grew up in this neighborhood as a kid. This used to always be a river,” Johns said.

The city of El Paso Street and Drainage Engineering Department will temporarily close the intersection until a few days before Christmas.

“We’re laying the new storm sewer, which is a box culvert. We’re also doing our tie-ins with the utilities for water and sewer,” Street and Drainage Engineering Division Manager Gilbert Andujo said. “We’re actually going to have an upgrade to the intersection signal system itself.”

Some Eastwood High School students aren’t looking forward to the additional traffic they believe will be caused by the closure.

“We try to avoid Montwood and Wedgewood as much as we can,” one student said.

The city has worked with the Ysleta Independent School District to allow a safe pedestrian crossing at Honolulu Drive and Montwood Drive.

As for Johns, he said construction has been a small price to pay for more business since drivers have had to slow down in the neighborhood. He agrees improvements are definitely needed.

“It’s well needed. It’s been 30 years past due,” Johns said.

Those needing to get around the intersection are being advised to use Montwood Drive to McRae Boulevard up to Album Avenue. The temporary intersection closure is also affecting Sun Metro bus routes, so be sure to follow detour signs.

Construction at the intersection is expected to be complete by February 2015, according to Andujo.