Posted on 09/28/2018 11:52:44 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) - A little more than a year after El Paso's first toll road became history, it's resurfacing as part of a new construction project.
This time it's going to be part of the Border West Expressway, an extension of Loop 375. It'll be going from West El Paso to Downtown El Paso, but many don't know this new stretch of highway is set to be a toll road.
"The Border West Highway is what not enough of your viewers understand is being developed as a complete tolled project," said State Rep. Joe Pickett, (D) El Paso.
The Border West Expressway is still under construction. Signs for the toll road can already be seen from I-10, but Pickett is trying to remove the toll.
"That one is planned to all be tolled. I'm not really happy about that.It was planned at a time in the past where we were being held to the fire on financing," said Pickett.
Most toll roads are used to help pay back money borrowed to for road construction, but Pickett said that's not this case with this project.
"TXDOT basically sent us the money to build the road and said you can toll it," he said.
The tolled portion will be about 5.5 miles from Racetrack Drive in West El Paso near the New Mexico state line to the existing Loop 375 in Downtown. Pickett said there is an agreement for TXDOT to suspend the tolls as long as construction on Interstate 10 is ongoing.
"That's some consolation but it's still not enough," said Pickett.
He plans on introducing legislation during the next session.
"El Pasoans should just have the choice of being able to take the border highway or take interstate 10 without having to choose because one has the toll or not," said Pickett.
The expressway is set to be open to traffic in the Summer of next year. For frequently ask questions on the project click here.
I-10 is your best way out of El Paso if you have the misfortune of being there in the first place, and is free of charge
How many pesos will the toll be?
Hopefully, they won’t charge illegal aliens!
Is it vandalized with Beto O’Rourke posters yet?
I have no idea whether Robert the Phony Mexican has peppered the site with election posters yet.
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