Traffic flow changes near Bridge of Americas for I-10 Connect project
EL PASO, Texas -- Changes to traffic patterns near the Bridge of the Americas began Thursday as the Texas Dept. of Transportation announced the opening of new portions of the Interstate 10 Connect Project.
As part of this project, reconstruction to the Paisano Drive interchange has been completed, which means drivers traveling southbound from Paisano to the port of entry will no longer have access.
Traffic will access I-110 south into Mexico from I-10 or US 54.
To account for this traffic, TxDOT has added an additional lane as well as a truck lane on I-110 south.
This change was made after the long lines of trucks on Paisano Drive caused issues to residents in the area.
Community members told ABC-7 that they have been protesting this issue for years now.
They said it caused unsafe air quality to the community, along with loud noises throughout the night and heavy traffic that caused safety concerns for kids leaving Bowie High School.
Another change you can expect leaving Mexico from the Bridge of the Americas is traffic can no longer access I-110 by proceeding through the intersection at Paisano Drive. You used to be able to get access to a ramp onto I-110 from San Antonio Street, but now it's a 2-way street that leads straight into the Findley/Latta neighborhood.
These lanes should only be used to access Paisano Drive.
Jennifer Wright, a TxDot spokeswoman, said this project was not meant to decrease traffic - but to alleviate the stress it put on the nearby communities.
“Keeping in mind the Bridge of the Americas is the most popular crossing that we have in our area and it was congested prior to this project and the congestion will persist after this project,” said Wright.
She said that with the opening of the of the International Bridges to non-essential travelers this coming Monday, they expect to see a big uptick in traffic and some confusion as people get used to the changes.
Wright added that the project is expected to be completed sometime in December.
