EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso is moving forward with traffic mitigation improvements along Frontera Road to protect residential neighborhoods from congestion due to the development activity near the state line.
The City made the announcement on Monday, Feb. 16, in a news release.
“We’re focused on practical solutions that residents can see,” mayor pro tem and District 1 Representative Alejandra Chávez said. “This project is about protecting residents, preserving safe streets, and ensuring emergency access. We are delivering, commonsense traffic controls that put neighborhood safety first.”
Development in Sunland Park, New Mexico, directly borders El Paso neighborhoods, and traffic impacts do not stop at the state line, according to the news release.
In response, the City said it has identified and advanced a set of traffic controls designed to mitigate congestion, preserve reliable emergency access, and protect neighborhood safety as growth continues in the area.
“Frontera Road is a neighborhood street, and our job is to keep it functioning like one,” Joaquin Rodriguez, Grant Funded Programs director, said. “These improvements focus on safety and livability, using physical traffic controls that mitigate congestion and protect emergency response routes.”
The City said traffic mitigation planning started after development activity near the border raised concerns about increased traffic on El Paso residential streets. When the activity paused, the City paused its mitigation work to reassess conditions, confirm assumptions, and ensure that any long-term solution would be effective for actual traffic patterns before moving forward.
Design work on the planned improvements started earlier this year, and construction is expected to begin this summer, barring any unforeseen events.
The improvements include emergency-only access gates and a diagonal diverter on Frontera Road to redirect New Mexico Traffic to New Mexico streets and support safer, more predictable traffic flow. However, the measures are designed to manage vehicle traffic only. Pedestrian and bicycle access will continue, and emergency access will be preserved, according to the City.
In December 2024, the El Paso City Council approved $340,000 for design and construction. The project is being delivered through the City’s standard capital planning, procurement, and construction processes.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.