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West El Paso street damaged by two collapsed stormwater drains
EL PASO - El Paso Water continues efforts to repair two collapsed underground stormwater drains at the intersection of La Placita and Villa Hermosa streets in west El Paso. The drains collapsed on the evening of July 22, causing damage to several areas of the street.
On Monday, EPWater closed all of La Placita from Villa Hermosa to Westwind Drive until repairs are complete. Surrounding homes and businesses are safe, however EPWater strongly urges residents and onlookers not to cross or go near the barricades. EPWater is working with nearby apartments and homeowners to ensure safe access to their homes.
To ensure public safety, EPWater is working with a local contractor to replace the stormwater drains on La Placita from Villa Hermosa to Westwind in addition to repairing the street. There is no estimated timeline or costs at this point. Contractors will work 7 days a week to replace the stormwater drains and pave the streets as soon as possible.
The stormwater drains that collapsed are about 40 years old, and there are hundreds of miles of underground stormwater drains in El Paso. EPWater is assessing the condition of stormwater drains in the surrounding area that may also need repair.
"We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused nearby residents and businesses, and we appreciate their patience while we replace the stormwater drains." said EPWater President and CEO John Balliew. "We are investigating the use of innovative technologies to minimize disruptions to the neighborhood during repairs."
La Placita street from Villa Hermosa to Westwind remains closed until repairs are complete.
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