Crane watch: construction projects impacting El Paso commute times and more

By Sara Sanchez / El Paso Inc. staff writer

Jan 12, 2025

El Paso Water is building a new headquarters next to its old one on Hawkins in the Cielo Vista area.

The new year will usher in the completion of several high-profile publicly funded projects across El Paso, including new utility headquarters and major road updates.

El Paso Inc. has rounded up several visible projects to kick off 2025’s crane watch. El Paso has seen an influx of new developments across the county, including retail, commercial and logistics projects.

Here are some projects to watch out for in 2025. For suggestions on what to include in El Paso Inc.’s next round of project updates, email sara.sanchez@elpasoinc.com.

El Paso Water headquarters

A large crane is part of the skyline for commuters on Hawkins Boulevard, near the Fountains at Farah shopping center and Cielo Vista Mall.

Construction crews are continuing work on a new headquarters for El Paso Water.

Gilbert Trejo, El Paso Water’s vice president of operations and technical services, said the building will be a model in the city for conservation and green building practices.

“The structure is already going vertical,” Trejo said. “There was a lot of land and foundation underground work that went on in 2024. Now the building is going up.”

The $67.8 million project will be four stories and have capacity for 300 employees, El Paso Water said.

The building is designed by San Antonio-based Lake|Flato Architects and El Paso firm Exigo Architecture. It includes a steel frame, and floors will be made of cross-laminated timber, a prefabricated wood building material that includes multiple layers of lumber.

“It avoids having to do a lot of concrete,” Trejo said. “Most buildings you see around town with multiple floors have concrete.”

Trejo said the cross-laminated timber will be exposed and helped guide the design of the building.

“It’s a renewable resource, but it’s also very durable. From the architect, they say it looks fantastic. It’s helped how we’ve designed the building. The second floor is the ceiling for the first floor. It looks like a nice hardwood floor.”

Trejo said the building will also have stormwater conservation and feature native landscaping.

“Conservation doesn’t have to look ugly,” Trejo said. “It can still be green; you just need the right vegetation and plants.”

El Paso Water said drivers can expect the lane reduction on Hawkins for the duration of the project through the end of 2025.

The utility’s headquarters is set for completion in spring of 2026. The old headquarters building next door will be demolished in the fall of 2026.

I-10 widening

Since 2022, regional and El Paso commuters on the Westside have endured long closures and delays as the Texas Department of Transportation continues its work on the widening of Interstate 10 from the Texas-New Mexico state line to Mesa Street.

The 11-mile, $208 million project will expand I-10 from a four-lane highway to a six-lane highway. The freeway widening also includes urbanization of frontage roads and bridge demolition and reconstruction. The Thorn Street bridge was demolished in June and work continues on reconstruction.

TxDOT is also adding an overpass at Los Mochis in Northwest El Paso.

This week, TxDOT and construction crews will be working on retaining walls. I-10 east and west will be alternatingly reduced to one lane between Vinton and Transmountain.

Also this week, I-10 east and west between Mesa and Redd will be alternatingly reduced to one lane. Crews will be hauling dirt in the area.

On Saturday, Jan. 18, beginning at 4 a.m., a 49-hour closure is planned for I-10 east at Redd. Crews will be installing a bridge deck.

Paisano bridge replacement

Major work continues on Paisano Drive near Executive, along the Rio Grande, where TxDOT and construction crews are replacing the bridge.

The eastbound lane closure, which begins at Doniphan Drive to Executive Center, began last year and is set to reopen in September of 2025.

KFOX last year reported the bridge had been rated poor by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Bridge Inventory.

Road construction continues on Paisano Drive.

Nuestra Señora

HOME, the housing authority for the city of El Paso, is nearing completion of its major in-fill project, Nuestra Señora, near Downtown.

The $17.9 million project will include 80 low-income, multifamily units in the four-story development. The project is slated for completion in 2025.

A glass mosaic mural by Andrew Joseph Perez was unveiled at Nuestra Señora on Dec. 12, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Mesa Hills apartments

HOME is also beginning work on Mesa Hills Apartments, a 40-unit affordable housing project at 1040 Mesa Hills.

According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration, the development will include three buildings across 2.8 acres in West El Paso, near HT Ponsford Park.

The project is listed at $8 million and slated for completion in mid-2026. Wright & Dalbin Architects is listed as the architecture firm for the project.

Email El Paso Inc. staff writer Sara Sanchez at sara.sanchez@elpasoinc.com or call 915-534-4422.

Crane watch: construction projects impacting El Paso commute times and more

El Paso is undergoing significant construction projects in 2025, including the new El Paso Water headquarters, I-10 widening, Paisano bridge replacement, and affordable housing developments like Nuestra Señora and Mesa Hills Apartments. These projects aim to improve infrastructure and provide affordable housing, with completion dates ranging from 2025 to 2026.