EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Businesses along Artcraft Road in Northwest El Paso are being demolished to extend the Texas Department of Transportation’s State Highway 178 project.
The $243.7 million dollar project will help important trade and commercial activities within Texas, New Mexico and Chihuahua, according to TxDOT. SH178 (Artcraft) serves the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, and the land near the road has experienced rapid residential and commercial development, resulting in increased safety hazards and traffic congestion.
The proposed project includes four direct connectors at the interchange of Interstate 10 and SH178, which will allow drivers to bypass the frontage road, traffic light signals and traffic congestion on North and South Desert Boulevard, TxDOT said.
Additionally, the project also proposed U-turn bridges at the SH178/I-10 interchange and grade separations at the intersections of SH178/Upper Valley Road, and SH178/Westside Drive. Entrance and exit ramps to SH178 are proposed to accommodate the grade separations…