West El Paso drivers ran into road closures Monday after old dynamite turned up near Executive Boulevard, prompting the El Paso Police Department to send its bomb squad to the scene and shut down a stretch of Loop 375. The closures blocked both directions of the highway along with Doniphan, and were expected to last several hours.
Bomb Squad Responds to West El Paso Scene
According to the El Paso Police Department, old dynamite was found in the 600 block of Executive, as reported by CBS4 Local. KFOX reported that the discovery was near Cement Lake and on El Paso Water property. The department's Bomb Squad was dispatched to the scene, per the same KFOX report.
Old dynamite can pose a hazard even when it has been stored for years. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives warns that dynamite leaking nitroglycerin or developing salt crystals may present an “extreme safety hazard” and should be destroyed as soon as possible. The agency’s warning describes risks associated with deteriorated explosives generally; authorities have not said whether the material found near Executive had those signs. ATF guidance on deteriorated explosives explains why age alone does not establish that dynamite is safe.
A bomb squad found the old dynamite near Executive Center Boulevard on Monday, according to the El Paso Police Department, as detailed by KVIA. EPPD notified media of the situation shortly before 5:45 p.m. that day, per KTSM's report.
The highway shutdown has a local precedent: in a past El Paso incident, authorities closed a stretch of U.S. 54 for nearly four hours after a suspected military explosive was found. Fort Bliss’ 741st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit later determined it was an inert practice device from the 1940s, not an explosive. That case involved a different object and location, but showed how a suspicious find can trigger a major road closure while specialists identify it. The El Paso Times account republished by Fort Bliss details the response.
Loop 375 and Doniphan Closed Indefinitely
The discovery prompted the closure of Loop 375's eastbound and westbound lanes along with Doniphan, leaving drivers across West El Paso facing unexpected detours. The EPPD said the highway would close from Executive to Doniphan, KVIA reported. CBS4 Local reported that Loop 375 eastbound and westbound lanes, as well as Doniphan, were closed, with the closures potentially lasting several hours.
Cement Lake, near the reported discovery, is also recognized by the city as a wetlands and arroyo area. In a 2014 municipal record, the city described the Cement Lake Wetlands as a functional part of a FEMA-designated arroyo and a stopover point for migratory birds, and recommended efforts to preserve the natural feature. That land-use context adds to the significance of the area beyond its proximity to Loop 375. The City of El Paso’s municipal record outlines the wetlands designation.
The closures were expected to last several hours. The situation remained developing Monday, with CBS4 Local reporting that further updates were expected. Hoodline will continue to follow this story as new information becomes available.
