Traffic Switch Scheduled onto Newly Built Lanes of I-10 Widening West Project
Many onramps, offramps will be closed as work moves from median to outside shoulder
After months of work adding new lanes and widening bridges in the median of Interstate 10, eastbound traffic will switch onto the newly built driving surface from north of Transmountain Road to north of Redd Road on the morning of Tuesday, July 18.
So far on the I-10 Widening West Project, ten bridges have been widened and approximately six miles of new concrete pavement have been placed (approximately three miles in each direction). Work has focused in the median of I-10 between Los Mochis Drive and Helen of Troy Drive.
“While this traffic switch marks important progress on the project, motorists should also be aware that it brings major changes in traffic patterns in the area, some of which are scheduled to be in place for approximately the next twelve months,” said Jorge Oregel, P.E., TxDOT Project Manager.
To prepare for the switch, eastbound I-10 will be closed to all traffic from Vinton Road to North Mesa Street from 6am on Sunday, July 16, until 6am on Tuesday, July 18. All eastbound traffic will take Exit 2 (Spur 37/Vinton Road/Westway Drive), continue on South Desert Boulevard, and re-enter I-10 past Mesa. Police officers will be stationed at major intersections to help keep traffic flowing during this closure.
When the freeway re-opens on the morning of Tuesday, July 18, eastbound thru traffic will be on the new driving surface. All off-ramps from Transmountain Road to Redd Road will be closed. Temporary on-ramps will be open near Transmountain and Redd. The direct connector ramp from Transmountain Road to eastbound I-10 will be closed as well. It is scheduled to re-open in about a month. Other ramps as soon as they are complete will open over the next year.
“For many months, crews have been working in the median of I-10; with this traffic switch, major construction activities will move from the median to the outside lane and the shoulder between the mainlanes and the frontage roads,” Oregel said. “Long-term ramp closures were necessary to give crews room to remove existing ramps, replace them with new ones, add new lanes, and expand bridges in this part of the project.”
While two lanes of thru traffic will be open in most the work zone, eastbound I-10 will be reduced to one lane at Transmountain Road. This configuration will remain in place for approximately twelve months.
Other Upcoming Traffic Switches on I-10
Later this month, traffic is scheduled to switch onto the newly constructed driving surface on eastbound I-10 from south of Vinton Road to north of Los Mochis Drive. In August, westbound traffic will switch onto the new driving surface from south of Redd Road to north of Transmountain and from north of Los Mochis Drive to south Vinton Road. Ramp closures, similar to those which will be in place on the eastbound lanes, will be in place on the westbound lanes when the traffic switch occurs.
About I-10 Widening West
I-10 Widening West is a $170 million project which will expand and improve Interstate 10 in West El Paso County. The project will widen I-10 from two lanes in each direction to three between North Mesa Street and Vinton. The project also reconfigures the location of onramps and offramps between North Mesa Street and the Texas-New Mexico State Line. Stay up-to-date on the project by following @TxDOTELP on Twitter or visiting Facebook.com/TxDOTElPaso.