Road Closures & Travel Info
ROAD CLOSURES
Loop 375 (Border Highway)
From U.S. 54 to Santa Fe Street will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic in both directions for approximately a 24-hour period starting at 3am on Wednesday February 17th From U.S. 54 to Yarbrough will be closed to all traffic from 10am on Wednesday February 17th until the Pope departs the Mass location and his motorcade travels away from roadways adjacent to the El Paso-Jurez Border The Border Highway will remain closed to pedestrians during Pope Francis’s visit to Juarez
South Central El Paso
City streets bounded by Loop 375 to the south, Campbell to the west, Paisano to the north and Coles/First to the east will have limited access to traffic starting at 3am on Wednesday February 17th Access in the restricted area will be limited to residents and businesses. Local Access by residents and business owners will be allowed to enter and exit the restricted area through one location: the intersection of Delta and Coles. Once Pope Frances arrives at the Mass location in Jurez, no one will be allowed to leave or re-enter the restricted area until the pope departs the Mass. Campbell from Paisano to Interstate 10 will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 3am on Wednesday February 17th. Cotton from Paisano to I-10 will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 3am on Wednesday February 17th Delta from Paisano to Boone will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 3am on Wednesday February 17th Santa Fe from Paisano to Loop 375 will be closed to vehicular traffic starting at 3am on Wednesday February 17th The closures will remain until the Pope departs the Mass; Additional closures may be necessary should plans related to the papal border visit change.
INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES
All International Ports of Entry in the region will be open in both directions on Wednesday February 17th. Commercial Traffic will be rerouted on Wednesday February 17 by Customs and Border Protection from the Bridge of the Americas to Ysleta to assist with mitigating traffic. Those Attending the Papal Mass urged to cross on Stanton Street Bridge, no one will be allowed to park a vehicle within a five block radius of the papal mass site. The public is asked to plan ahead if traveling across the border and avoid the Bridge of the Americas. The Office of Emergency Management in El Paso recommends traveling across the border at least a day in advance for those planning on participating in papal events in Jurez. Anyone traveling across the border should carry a current passport or border crossing card. The public’s cooperation and patience will be appreciated at the Paso Del Norte, Stanton Street and Ysleta bridges as delays in getting through toll collection stations may occur due to the increase international travelers. Providing toll collectors with exact change will assist in keeping delays to a minimum. Debit and credit card payments will be accepted. Mexican currency will also be accepted. Fare information is available at www.elpasotexas.gov/international-bridges/fares.
SUN METRO
Fixed routes will be serving customers traveling to downtown El Paso on Feb. 17. They will have extended hours on Wednesday February 17 with the last buses leaving at 10:15 p.m. Several Sun Metro routes will be detoured as a result of the planned road closures. Service delays should be expected for all routes serving the Downtown Transfer Center. Information about detoured routes is available at www.pope915.com and may be obtained by calling (915) 212-3333.
Park and Ride services will be available to the Sun Bowl on February 17, 2016. Park and Ride roundtrip fare to the Sun Bowl is $3. Exact change is required. Parking is free at Sun Metro lots. Departures to the Sun Bowl will be scheduled for every 30 minutes between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at all locations. Park and Ride locations:
Eastside Transfer Center, near Cielo Vista Mall, 1165 Sunmount, El Paso, Texas, 79925 Far Eastside, Edgemere near RC Poe, El Paso, Texas, 79938 Mission Valley Transfer Center, 9065 Alameda, El Paso, Texas 79907 Northeast Transfer Center, at Diana and Dyer, 9348 Dyer Street, El Paso, Texas, 79924 Al Jefferson Westside Transfer Center, behind Walmart, 7535 Remcon Circle, El Paso, Texas, 79912
CITY OFFICE CLOSURES
The City of El Paso will be operating under a modified work week. All administrative offices will be open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The city is working on Friday in lieu of its regular Wednesday work day.
Essential personnel will follow a normal work schedule.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS:
The City of El Paso is hosting community meetings in South-Central to notify residents and businesses of traffic control plans impacting their neighborhoods. Three meetings will be held at the Armijo Recreation Center gymnasium at 700 E. Seventh Avenue. Meeting time and dates:
-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan, 27.
-10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28.
-6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1.
The city is also setting up a website to answer any questions related to street or office closures during the pope’s visit.
You can find the website at www.pope915.com.
City officials say you can also get information on the pope’s visit through social media using the hashtag #pope915.
