In East El Paso, a street many neighbors saw as a lifeline is now a construction zone headache. Residents who have relied on Berryville Street for years say ongoing work tied to the John Hayes extension has abruptly cut them off from familiar routes, leaving some to bump their way across undeveloped land just to reach homes and lots. They worry that blocked access and rough detours could slow down emergency responders and turn simple errands into minor expeditions while heavy machinery churns through the area.
According to KFOX, crews have closed access from Berryville Street as the John Hayes Extension Project, which began in January 2024, converts Berryville into a continuation of John Hayes and adds one lane in each direction. The work stretches from the intersection of John Hayes Street and Montwood south for roughly three miles to the end of Pellicano, and county officials say the effort is still in its first phase.
Resident Alfredo Munoz says the closure has at times left him clearing rocks and “making my own routes” to get to his property, describing the whole ordeal as “stressful.” County Commissioner Iliana Holguin told KFOX that county staff have evaluated alternate roads and concluded the detours are technically passable, while acknowledging that daily life for neighbors has become far less convenient.
How the Construction Fits Into Bigger Eastside Road Plans
The changes in Berryville are tied to a broader Pellicano Drive widening project overseen by the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority. The Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority describes Pellicano as a multi-phase overhaul that will rebuild the roadway into a six-lane divided corridor with medians, sidewalks, and bike lanes, and notes on its project page that legal and contractor problems have slowed things down.
Why Progress Has Been So Uneven
Local reporting indicates the original contractor defaulted and later filed for bankruptcy, tying the project up in court and delaying the process of bringing in a replacement crew. KVIA reported that the county reached a takeover agreement with the project’s surety and committed roughly $6 million in vehicle-registration funds to restart Phase 1 under Hawk Construction, with that segment now targeted for completion in 2026.
Neighbors Sound Alarm on Emergency Access
County and CRRMA updates highlight continued monitoring and outreach, with the CRRMA saying it is mailing postcards and keeping a project page active to notify nearby households as work ramps back up. Residents, however, say that is not enough, arguing that clearer signage, guaranteed space for emergency vehicles, and quicker, more direct communication will be critical to prevent dangerous delays while construction drags on.
For now, neighbors around Berryville say they plan to keep pressing county leaders for practical fixes to the daily grind. Officials, for their part, stick to the message that the long-term payoff will be safer, higher-capacity roads, even if the current phase feels like a rough ride.
