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Drivers will have to find other routes to University Medical Center of El Paso and the El Paso Children’s Hospital because of a monthlong closure of the Alameda Avenue-Raynolds Street intersection starting tonight.
The intersection will be closed at 8 p.m. today and will reopen by Aug. 3 because of the reconstruction of Alameda.
Alameda will still be open with only one lane in each direction, but drivers won’t be able to reach Alameda via Raynolds, which leads to Interstate 10 and is one of the major routes to the area.
The closure is part of a $6 million reconstruction of Alameda by the Texas Department of Transportation that started in January. Alameda, also known as Texas 20, is a state road.
“We are adding a median. We are adding sidewalks, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) approved, of course, curbs, landscaping and illumination,” said Blanca M. Del Valle, spokeswoman for TxDOT in El Paso.
Drivers should expect delays during the construction. The Raynolds-Val Verde streets intersection will be temporarily closed.
Val Verde and Raynolds streets will be open only to local traffic.
The El Paso Children’s Hospital said in a news release that its visitors, patients, physicians and employees should use alternative routes.
If coming from the East Side on I-10, drivers can exit at Paisano Drive, go south and then take Alameda to the hospitals.
If coming from the West Side on I-10, drivers can exit at Piedras Street, go south and then take Alameda to the hospitals.
The work is the first phase of the reconstruction of Alameda.
The second phase will be near Fox Plaza and could include the construction of two roundabouts.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102. Follow him on Twitter @BorundaDaniel.