Preparations continue by the City of El Paso along with its local, state and federal partners for the upcoming landmark border visit by Pope Francis.
Traffic measures including travel restrictions and road closures will be carried out to control traffic flow on El Paso roadways and neighborhoods to be most affected by the papal border visit.
Update on use of emergency routes (Campbell and Cotton)Â
- Campbell will be closed starting at 3 a.m. to all traffic between Franklin and Loop 375. This road will be designated for Emergency vehicle use. The closure will remain in effect for up to 24 hours.
o  Vehicular traffic will be allowed to cross Campbell (east or west) between Paisano and Franklin.
o  Vehicles in parking lots and garages that have exits facing Campbell will be allowed on Campbell. Vehicles exiting these lots and garages must yield to traffic on Campbell and must turn immediately off of Campbell at the first intersecting roadway traveling east or west. This action is necessary to avoid possible collisions with emergency units that could be traveling southbound on the roadway.
- Cotton will be closed starting at 3 a.m. from 7th Ave to E. Missouri. This road will also be designated for Emergency vehicle use. This closure will remain in effect for up to 24 hours.
o  Vehicular traffic will be allowed to cross Cotton (east or west) between E. San Antonio and Texas.
o  Vehicles in parking lots that have exits facing Cotton will be allowed on Cotton. Vehicles exiting these lots and garages must yield to traffic on Cotton and must turn immediately off of Cotton at the first intersecting roadway traveling east or west.
Contingency Plan for I-10 (eastbound and westbound lanes)
- If traffic leading to downtown or to the Bridge of Americas, Paso Del Norte or Stanton ports of entry and their surrounding neighborhoods becomes gridlocked due to traffic not moving swiftly across the border due to traffic control in Juárez, El Paso Police will work with its partners to alleviate the traffic congestion in El Paso by limiting access to downtown and South-Central streets from I-10.
o  Off-ramps to I-10 may be closed in both directions from Geronimo to Executive Center.
Contingency Plan for Paisano (eastbound lanes)Â
- If traffic leading to downtown or to the Paso Del Norte or Stanton ports of entry and their surrounding neighborhoods becomes gridlocked due to traffic not moving swiftly across the border due to traffic control in Juárez, El Paso Police and its partners may close eastbound lanes on Paisano from Executive Center to Santa Fe.
Loop 375
- Loop 375 from U.S. Highway-54 to Santa Fe will be closed in both directions to all traffic (vehicular, pedestrian, etc.) for approximately a 24-hour period starting at 3 a.m. on February, 17, 2016. View map here.
- Loop 375 from U.S. Highway-54 to Yarbrough will be closed to all traffic (vehicular, pedestrian, etc.) from 10 a.m. until the Pope departs the Mass location and his motorcade travels away from roadways adjacent to the El Paso-Juárez border.
- City streets in South-Central El Paso bounded by Loop 375 to the south, Campbell to the west, Paisano to the north and Coles/First to the east will have limited access to vehicular traffic starting at 3 a.m. on February 17, 2016. Vehicular access in the restricted area will be limited to residents and businesses. View map here.
- Residents and businesses will be allowed to enter and exit the restricted area through one location: the intersection of Delta and Coles. View map here.
- Residents of Chihuahuita will be allowed to access to their properties via Santa Fe.
- Once Pope Francis arrives at the Mass location in Juárez no one will be allowed to leave or re-enter the restricted area until the Pope departs the mass. This closure is scheduled for 2 p.m.
