Documents showing the schematic plan for the upcoming I-10 re-striping project on El Paso's east side indicate that a 5th lane in each direction will be used for merging traffic in and out of the main lanes between Yarbrough and Lomaland Drives. The schematics are part of a presentation given by the Texas Department of Transportation at its last public meeting on the project.
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| Merge Lanes add a fifth lane in each direction on I-10. |
The merge/exit only lanes are in addition to a fourth lane that will be added from McRae Blvd. to Zaragoza Road/George Dieter Drive. A third lane will be added in each direction from Zaragoza to the Americas Interchange at I-10 and Loop 375.
Currently, I-10 is reduced to three lanes in each direction at McRae, creating severe bottleneck traffic conditions during rush hour when travelling east. And morning commuters traveling westward from the east side also encounter heavy congestion between Lee Trevino and Hawkins Boulevard.
The Texas Department of Transportation is expanding capacity without widening the freeway by using striping to reduce current lanes by a foot each and using the current inner shoulder as a main lane. The outside shoulder will remain.
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| Most of the inner shoulder will be used for a new main lane. |
There has been no update to the timeline, but the $11 million project could begin in August of this year. Engineering firm Huitt-Zollars of Dallas has been awarded the contract. Huitt-Zollars has a permanent local branch in El Paso.
Related:
More Lanes Coming to I-10 in East El Paso
Huitt-Zollars website:
http://www.huitt-zollars.com/index.htm
