After decades of hurry-up-and-wait, the long‑awaited Montwood Drive extension on El Paso’s far East Side is finally poised to move from drawings to dirt. City officials say design work is wrapped and property acquisitions are almost done, clearing the way for utility work and construction later this year.
Ivan Niño, the city representative for District 5, told reporters the city has secured nearly all the land it needs and is working through the last bits of red tape before bids are awarded. "As of this morning, we've acquired 13 properties out of 14, which is a big milestone," Niño said. He added the city expects to finish the remaining steps "sometime this summer" and that crews are "projected to start the construction of the project this fall," as reported by KFOX14.
What the Extension Will Do
The new roadway is designed to give drivers another east‑west option across District 5, easing heavy traffic on Zaragoza Road and improving access to Loop 375. Earlier community briefings laid out a plan for a four‑lane divided street stretching from just west of Tierra Este Road to Rich Beem Boulevard, with sidewalks, shared‑use paths, and signalized intersections along the way, according to KVIA.
Procurement and Schedule
The project has moved into procurement, with construction documents and solicitation listings detailing an Invitation for Bid for the Montwood Extension (solicitation 2026-0374). Those materials show May 2026 bid dates and an estimated construction budget in the low tens of millions. Project listings on ConstructConnect include an estimated start date in mid‑July and a posted bid date in late May, while city officials have signaled a fall start that will depend on how quickly the contract is awarded.
Utilities First, Limited Disruptions
Because much of the corridor is still undeveloped, crews will begin with utilities and water lines before any paving happens. El Paso Water’s capital plan lists a specific Montwood Drive Extension line item, showing that coordinated water‑line work is already budgeted. Officials and project listings indicate the build should cause minimal lane closures for nearby residents and will likely take about a year once construction gets underway, per the El Paso Water Utilities.
When it is finally finished, planners say the Montwood extension should give drivers a more reliable route across the far East Side and help ease the daily grind on the Zaragoza corridor. The project is funded through the voter‑approved 2022 Community Progress Bond, and city updates are posted on the City of El Paso Community Progress page for residents who want to keep tabs on timelines and meetings.
