State and local officials join in turning dirt, officially kicking off the Loop 1604 expansion project. |
What's interesting is the funding involved - it's a fantastic blend of state, county and city funds, including money from the local Advanced Transportation District. The state funds come from a pot of $1.9 billion identified by the Texas Transportation Commission mid-2012 that came from a meltingpot of Texas Mobility Fund bond proceeds, anticipated federal funding and savings on projects that were underway at the time.
Here's the breakdown:
State funds (Categories 12 and 14) - $54,800,000
Local funds (ATD) - $27,200,000
Representative Jose Menendez, of the Texas House of Representatives, talked about the importance of cooperation between state and local officials - and the fact this project is a success story of such cooperation. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff was a large part of that cooperation, and ultimately oversaw development of the proposal that was accepted mid-2012 by the Texas Transportation Commission.
Over the next several weeks, Williams Brothers crews will begin setting up the work zone. Heavy excavation and construction activities will begin mid-March, with the first focus being the construction of access roads - that is, converting Leslie Road to a frontage road.
Between now and the end of 2016 (when the work finishes), drivers in the area can expect typical delays associated with construction work. Major lane closures will be limited to nighttime closures where possible, and all closures will be posted a week in advance.
An option to add the Highway 151 intersection to the current project will kick in when the federal environmental studies finish up later this year. That intersection, if added to the contract, will finish fall 2017.