Frontera Project by City of El Paso
Frontera Road Updates
The City of El Paso is changing streets at the Sunland Park state line through fall 2026. Every update, document and meeting recording is posted on this page.
Sunland Park is working toward a solution that serves residents on both sides of the state line.
What is being built
The plan separates through traffic by state. New Mexico bound traffic is routed onto New Mexico streets, Texas bound traffic stays on Texas streets. Walking and biking access stays open the whole way through.
- New Mexico side
- Texas side
- Diagonal diverter
- Emergency only gate
What this means day to day
Frontera Road is closed to through traffic
Drivers can no longer pass straight through on Frontera Road. Detours are required to get around the construction and the access points.
Plan for extra travel time
Detour routes add time to trips through the area. Allow extra time while construction continues and while the new traffic pattern takes effect.
Where construction stands
El Paso started work in June 2026 and estimated about four months. The bar below reflects the announced window, not a confirmed completion date.
Today
Latest news
Newest first. Select any item to read the full update.
City Manager Mario Juarez-Infante presented a Frontera Road update during City Manager Reports at the September 1 City Council meeting, covering the website launch, the Fire and Police Department assessments, the amended regional traffic study and the current gate configuration.
Frontera Road update
- The Frontera Road Updates website is live
- The Fire Department and Police Department assessments have been posted, with links available on this page
- The draft Traffic Impact Analysis scope of work was amended after the September 1 El Paso MPO meeting and is pending El Paso's review
- The New Mexico Border Authority has agreed to review a possible contract amendment with EP MPO to help fund the study
- City staff will prepare a public question and answer document in the coming weeks
Regional traffic analysis action items
| # | Action item | Responsible party | Target date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amend the regional traffic analysis scope of work to add the Appaloosa to Frontera and Frontera to NM 273 alternatives | City of Sunland Park | Promptly | Open |
| 2 | Transmit the revised scope of work to the City of El Paso and EP MPO | City of Sunland Park | Upon completion | Open |
| 3 | Review the revised scope of work and provide comments and recommended amendments | City of El Paso | September 14, 2026 | Open |
| 4 | Follow up with City Manager Mack regarding El Paso's participation and review | City Manager Juarez-Infante | Around September 14, 2026 | Open |
| 5 | Evaluate an amendment to the South Border Connector Road Phase II contract to support the study | NM Border Authority and EP MPO | About 45 to 60 days | Open |
| 6 | Facilitate development and coordination of the regional transportation study | EP MPO | After scope and funding coordination | Open |
| 7 | Discuss participation in study costs if a funding gap remains | Sunland Park and partner agencies | During funding development | Open |
| 8 | Prepare and submit a functional classification request for the New Mexico segment of Frontera Road | City of Sunland Park | To EP MPO | Open |
Gate and access management
- Removable bollards are in place at La Adelita and Frontera. Gates are in place at Boy Scout Lane, Hacienda Roja and Gary Lane
- All access control points were installed by the City of El Paso, not the City of Sunland Park
- A final walkthrough of the installations was performed on August 24, 2026
- Gates are currently secured with combination locks. The City plans to move to heavy duty padlocks and install key vaults accessible to both El Paso and Sunland Park Fire, with timing to be announced
- Sunland Park Fire crews have visited the sites to confirm clearances and practice gate operation
The Police Department also briefed Council on the emergency access and evacuation concerns in its memo. See the Police Department item below for the full summary.
Read the City Manager's report (PDF) Watch the presentation, starts at 4:33
The City of Sunland Park is commissioning a regional Traffic Impact Analysis covering the transportation network that serves the Sunland Park and west El Paso border area. The study will independently evaluate El Paso's Frontera Road improvements, including the diagonal diverter and the emergency access gates, rather than assume they will work as planned.
On September 1, 2026, city leadership met with the El Paso Metropolitan Planning Organization and the New Mexico Border Authority to coordinate on the draft scope. Two additional regional connections were added as a result.
What the study covers
- Seven study intersections, including Frontera Road at Doniphan Drive and Sunland Park Drive at Doniphan Drive
- Existing conditions, near term conditions, a 20 year planning horizon and full build out scenarios
- The regional EP MPO travel demand model, developed with NMDOT, EP MPO and El Paso or TxDOT
- A direct comparison of traffic conditions with and without El Paso's Frontera area improvements
- Safety, access management, geometric and multimodal analysis covering pedestrians, bicycles and school routes
- Recommended regional mitigation, priorities and planning level costs
- New: extension of Appaloosa Drive to Frontera Road
- New: extension of Frontera Road across the Rio Grande with a connection to NM 273
The final report is due within six months of notice to proceed and must be signed and sealed by a professional engineer registered in New Mexico and Texas.
September 1 coordination meeting outcomes
- The El Paso MPO agreed to facilitate the regional study and coordination among the participating agencies
- The New Mexico Border Authority may contribute funding through an amendment to the South Border Connector Road Phase II contract. State approval is expected to take about 45 to 60 days
- Sunland Park will redistribute the amended scope to the City of El Paso, which has been asked to comment by September 14, 2026
- The group discussed an overall study timeline of roughly 8 to 12 months given the complexity of the network and expected public engagement
- Sunland Park has asked EP MPO to consider reclassifying the New Mexico segment of Frontera Road to match its Texas classification as a major collector, which would improve eligibility for federal transportation funding
The Sunland Park Fire Department issued a memorandum identifying emergency access concerns about the gates and bollards installed by the City of El Paso at four locations along the state line: Boy Scout Lane, Hacienda Roja Drive, La Adelita at Frontera, and Gary Lane.
What the memo states
- The affected streets are publicly owned and maintained, and are used by fire apparatus responding under mutual aid agreements between El Paso and Sunland Park
- The memo raises questions about whether locked gates on these streets are consistent with the city's adopted 2021 International Fire Code and related requirements
- At La Adelita and Frontera, responding apparatus must stop, unlock the gate and remove bollards before proceeding. At Gary Lane the configuration creates what the memo describes as a dead end fire access road
- A field inspection of the Boy Scout Lane gate found damaged or vandalized locking components
- Both fire departments can currently operate the gates. The concern is the added step, delay and point of failure introduced into the response route
The Sunland Park Fire Department recommends that the city formally evaluate the continued need for the gates and barricades and give consideration to removing them. Daniel Medrano, Fire Chief
The Sunland Park Police Department issued a memorandum to the City Manager assessing the operational impact of the Texas side road closures. The department found that day to day patrol operations are not significantly affected overall, but identified two specific concerns it recommends the city address on a priority basis.
What the memo states
- The Community Center at 3000 Girl Scout Lane and 800 El Centauro Drive currently has no workable New Mexico side route for police response. The only route runs through Texas via Frontera and Siete Lagunas
- Girl Scout Lane is unpaved and narrow, and a gate near Gary Lane adds a further obstacle along that corridor
- Gates currently restrict movement at Frontera and San Gabriel, at the state line at Boy Scout and Hacienda Roja, and at Gary Place and Girl Scout
- If Sunland Park Drive were unavailable during a mass evacuation, the only remaining route is Frontera Drive on the Texas side, where the gates are currently locked
- The department does not currently have a memorandum of understanding with the El Paso Police Department covering this corridor. Opening the route in an emergency would require a mutual aid request
- The memo notes this is a shared concern. The same gates could also block Texas side residents from evacuating through New Mexico
The department recommends that the city establish a formal agreement with El Paso defining an expedited process for opening the gates during a declared emergency, and evaluate paving and widening Girl Scout Lane to a standard suitable for emergency apparatus. Kiri Daines, Chief of Police
Recording of the community conversation meeting on the Frontera Road closures, held August 24, 2026.
Documents and recordings
Direct links to the official records behind this page.
Project timeline
How the project reached this point.
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2022 to 2024
Traffic concerns raised
Growth on the Sunland Park side of the border, including new residential development, increased traffic on Frontera Road. El Paso residents along the road raised concerns about congestion and safety, and the city began studying options.
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February 2026
El Paso approves funding
El Paso City Council approved $340,000 for design and construction of a diagonal diverter and emergency only access gates on Frontera Road. Design work began shortly after.
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June 2026
Construction begins
Work started on the diverter and access gates. El Paso estimated about four months to complete.
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August 24, 2026
Sunland Park hosts a public meeting
The city held a public meeting to answer resident questions and share the latest project updates.
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August 25, 2026
Police Department memo
Sunland Park Police issued a memo to the City Manager identifying emergency response and mass evacuation concerns tied to the Texas side gates.
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August 27, 2026
Fire Department memo
Sunland Park Fire issued a memo raising emergency access concerns about the gates and recommending the city evaluate their continued need.
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September 1, 2026
City Manager report to Council
The City Manager presented a Frontera Road update covering the website launch, the Fire and Police assessments, the amended traffic study and the current gate configuration.
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In progress
Regional traffic study scope amended
After coordination with the El Paso MPO and the New Mexico Border Authority, the city amended the study scope to add an Appaloosa Drive extension to Frontera Road and a Frontera Road extension across the Rio Grande to NM 273.
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