.jpg)
El Paso Water will invest more than $10 million over the next two years to proactively replace metal water mains which cross major gas pipelines in East El Paso.
Gas pipelines use corrosion protection systems that run an electrical current through the gas pipeline, a process that helps fight off the corrosive chemical makeup of El Paso’s soil. Over time, however, exposure of metal water mains to that electrical charge can increase the chance of corrosion in the metal water mains, increasing the occurrences of leaks or breaks.
“EPWater is proactively completing this work before there’s a water main break, minimizing the impact to our customers,” Chief Technical Officer Irazema Rojas said.
EPWater is replacing portions of five critical metal water mains and replacing the pipe material with high-strength plastic, which is resistant to corrosion. Work is scheduled at each of the following locations over the next two years:
- Lee Trevino Drive at Vista del Sol
- Yarbrough Drive at Kinross
- Lee Trevino Drive at Pebble Hills
- Airway Boulevard at Viscount
- Yarbrough Drive at Vista del Sol
Lane closures on Lee Trevino Drive
The first phase will begin in late February at the intersection of Lee Trevino Drive and Vista del Sol. Traffic along Lee Trevino from Pellicano to Vista del Sol will be impacted. There will be a complete closure of the northbound lanes between Armour Drive to the Chili’s restaurant.
Northbound traffic will then shift over to the southbound lanes with one lane going northbound and one lane going southbound. Single lane southbound traffic will begin at La Quinta Place until Armour Drive. This phase is expected to be completed by June 2023.
El Paso Water hosted a public meeting on February 15 to discuss the upcoming traffic impacts to the area. The utility plans to host a public meeting in each of the affected areas prior to construction.
Minimizing traffic impacts
Many of the water mains cross gas lines along busy roadways in East El Paso. To minimize traffic impacts, work will be completed on each phases before moving to the next phase. This means all five crossings will not be under construction at once.
Additionally, construction will pause during the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Years, to accommodate busy holiday traffic.
“While this work is necessary, we also recognize that it will be inconvenient,” EPWater Project Manager Francisco ‘Kiko’ Martinez said. “We are working to minimize disruption and maximize public outreach.”
Staying Up-to-Date
Neighbors can stay up to date on the progress of this project by following the Pipeline Protection Project page on Facebook. You can also visit our website to sign up for project updates delivered directly to your email.