I was just looking at the GOOGLE satelitte view maps from Anthony on the 404 road... Not a real big road for you... Those three number back roads sometimes scares me... I also see you have to use a Farm to Market four numbered FM2529 RD before you get to US54... After looking at this using the satelitte view it doesnt look all that bad but has two or three roads to use to get across from I10 to US54...
Going on down closer to ElPaso is the 375 Transmountain Highway which looks like a 4-lane divided highway across the mountain which dumps into US54 just as you clear the East side of the mountain. SOme curves but doesnt look all that bad on the satelitte view. No loop backs at least. haha...
Maybe someone else that actually has driven the two roads will dime in here...
Roy Ken