1st phase of Pellicano Widening Project completed

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- El Paso County will unveil the completed first phase of the Pellicano Drive Widening Project on Thursday.

The infrastructure project extends from Loop 375 to Darrington Road in East El Paso. The three-mile project comes with six lanes, raised medians and bike lanes.

Drivers will see new traffic control equipment and a pond built to improve drainage in the area.

The county said the project faced "considerable setbacks." The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority (CRRMA) oversaw the design of the project. The project was originally slated to begin construction in 2019 with completion set for 2022, according to CRRMA.

However, multiple delays occurred in the project, including the original contractor, J.A.R. Construction, filing for bankruptcy in March 2023. This led to CRRMA reporting that only 50% of all construction had been completed as of April 2025, nearly six years after construction started.

In September, CRRMA told ABC-7 that Phase One of the project was "ahead of schedule" and had a deadline set for December.

CRRMA also told ABC-7 the project's second phase has yet to receive key approvals from the county, with an estimated cost of around $30 million. It's about an $8 million increase from an estimate conducted three years ago.