I-10 closure begins Sunday 5 a.m.; prepare for congestion

The Texas Department of Transportation is preparing for Sunday’s shutdown of Interstate 10.

The closure will begin at 5 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m. Eastbound and westbound lanes will be closed from Executive Center to downtown El Paso.

Some people haven’t gotten the news.

“I didn’t hear about it at all,” said Ashley Pratt.

Others are aware of the impending closure.

“I heard it on the news a couple days ago,” Teresa Ramirez said.

The closure is part of TxDOT’s ongoing Westside highway projects but it won’t be TxDOT working on the highway Sunday.

The closure is so El Paso Electric can install two transmission lines. The utility is preparing for it. Trucks are staged and cables are hung.

Eastbound traffic will be diverted onto Executive Center Boulevard and westbound traffic will have to exit at Mesa Street just before getting to downtown.

Businesses along Mesa Street are ready for the traffic.

“We definitely added a little bit of staff for tomorrow,” said Billy Hayes, owner of The Rib Hut restaurant.

Hayes is hoping more traffic means more customers.

“Anytime there’s more traffic to this area it kind of brings more people. UTEP games, basketball, football, we seem to pick up a little business so it should be interesting with the freeway closed. I think it will add some business as well,” Hayes said.

ABC-7 caught up with TxDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Wright about the closure earlier this week. Wright says she’s going to stay well away from the area.

“Personally I’m going to make sure that my Thanksgiving groceries and all the shopping that has to do with that meal is done on Saturday and then on Sunday I’m going to stay home and enjoy my family, enjoy my house, maybe get a jump on Christmas decorations and I’m going to save my errands for during the week,” said Wright.