Vehicles were seen pushing through standing water on Tierra Este Road in Far East El Paso, near Edgemere Boulevard and El Dorado High School, as flooding turned the roadway into a hazard on Friday afternoon. Footage of the scene, captured by FitFamElPaso, showed cars navigating the flooded stretch as water pooled across the lanes.
El Paso Water told KTSM 9 News that crews were heading out to the location shortly after the flooding was reported. Some people reported that the flooding stemmed from a sinkhole opening up after a water main break, according to the same KTSM report, though that detail has not been independently confirmed.
A Familiar Trouble Spot for Far East El Paso Drivers
This is not the first time flooding has snarled traffic in this corner of the city. Just weeks earlier, a flooded roadway in far east El Paso caused a major traffic backup on a Saturday evening, according to KFOX14. In that instance, TxDOT closed all westbound lanes of Montana Avenue at Justice/Tierra Este Road because of high water, and officials urged drivers to avoid the area and find alternate routes. At the time, there was no estimated clearing time, and the roadway was expected to stay closed until further notice.
That same corridor has flooded before under similar circumstances. Montana Avenue westbound at Justice/Tierra Este closed because of high water on Aug. 15, with a major backup reported, the same outlet noted, and the road did not reopen until the following Sunday morning. Flooding was also reported that day near Montwood Middle School, and El Paso Fire said there were no weather-related injuries or transports connected to the incident.
Water Main Breaks Have Repeatedly Triggered Flooding Nearby
Tierra Este Road itself has a history of water-related trouble. Back in September 2023, El Paso Water crews responded to a main break at Tierra Este Road and Tierra Encino Drive, according to a report from CBS4 Local, which closed the road between Tierra Arroyo Drive and Tierra Nogal Drive while crews made repairs.
More recently, an early-morning water main break in July closed all westbound lanes of Montana Avenue near Red Sands Elementary School, as reported by KVIA. El Paso Water has explained in past incidents that main breaks can force water up through pavement, temporarily creating flood-like conditions on city streets, per a KFOX14 report on a separate break along Pecos Street that opened a sinkhole and left 26 customers without water service. In another case in the Upper Valley, a water main break created a sinkhole that trapped an El Paso Water truck; the vehicle was eventually pulled out and no injuries were reported, according to CBS4 Local.
What Drivers Should Know
The City of El Paso's 311 system lists road-related problems among issues residents can report, though it directs anyone facing a dangerous or emergency situation to call 911 instead. As of the latest KTSM report, El Paso Water crews were still en route to the Tierra Este Road location, and no updated status on the flooding or road closure had been provided.
