UTEP And Parts Of The Border Highway To Be Closed When Pope Francis Visits Juarez

The visit by Pope Francis on February 17 is going to affect both Juarez and El Paso. UTEP officials sent a letter to faculty, staff and students saying that in order to ‘manage anticipated pedestrian and vehicular traffic and ensure the safety and security of our students, faculty and staff, UTEP will close on Wednesday, February 17.’
To make up the day, the May 6 study day, or Dead Day before final exams, will now be a class day, and UTEP will be back on a normal schedule on Thursday, February 18.

If you don’t want to go to Juarez to see the Pope’s Mass, you can check it out at Sun Bowl Stadium where they will be showing a live feed broadcast on the big screen.

TxDOT and the City of El Paso are working on closing part of the Border Highway from U.S. 54 to Santa Fe Street because the Pope will celebrate Mass at the site of the former Juarez fairgrounds, which is directly across the border from Guillen Middle School and about midway through the proposed closure.

The road closure agreement first needs to be requested and approved by the El Paso City Council. If approved, the closure could begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday, February 16 and run through 5 a.m. Thursday, February 18.

It’s still not known if the City’s public school districts will be closed that day. Catholic schools will be closed.