I-35 Mainlanes at FM 1103 to Close for Bridge Demolition

The Texas Department of Transportation will close the I-35 mainlanes to north and southbound traffic from 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, until 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 15 to demolish the bridge at FM 1103. I-35 northbound traffic will exit to the frontage road at FM 1103. Traffic will remain on the frontage road through FM 1103 and re-enter the highway. I-35 southbound traffic will exit to the frontage road at FM 1103 and re-enter the highway at the entrance ramp past FM 1103.

The new portion of the FM 1103 bridge will be open to westbound traffic only, once demolition of the old bridge is complete. Eastbound traffic will need to travel south to FM 2252, and U-turn to FM 1103. The eastbound portion of the bridge will be complete by spring 2019. 

Road signs have been placed to alert drivers of the upcoming closure. TxDOT asks the traveling public to adhere to construction signage and remain aware when traveling through the work zone. 

The $7.2 million project consists of expanding the FM 1103 bridge over I-35 to five lanes, plus U-turn bridges and will be complete in summer 2019.

Major closure(s) on I-35 this weekend

Initially this was set to be an overnight closure for next week we would've simply published in our closures report and move along. Yesterday afternoon our contractor, Anderson Columbia, got administrative approval to move the date up considerably.

The closure

All main lanes will close, one side at a time, at FM 1103 in Schertz while crews set bridge support beams overhead. Traffic will exit FM 1103, pass through the intersection and re-enter the highway at the next available ramp. No traffic will be permitted on the FM 1103 bridge during this closure.
When we say this closure will be one side at a time that means we'll only have one direction closed at once. Saturday night, starting at 9 p.m., we'll close the northbound main lanes. Southbound lanes will function normally. The main lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Sunday.
Sunday night, starting at 9 p.m., we'll close the southbound side and have it reopened by 5 a.m. Monday. During this closure the northbound side will operate normally.
By the way we'll have trucks hauling those bridge support beams parked along the frontage roads during the day, so keep an eye out for that.

The good news
Daytime traffic will be relatively unaffected, unless you're traveling in the wee morning hours before dawn.

The rough news

This isn't the only major closure on I-35 in the area. Our folks in Austin will be shutting down all lanes of I-35 Friday night and Saturday night at William Cannon Drive in south Austin. That closure will run from 11 p.m. and about 10 a.m. each night. This will facilitate bridge demolition work for an expansion project they've got up that way.
They've also got an overnight closure at FM 3406 in Round Rock. That one will close northbound I-35 Friday at 10 p.m. (the lanes will reopen by 8 a.m. Saturday) and the southbound lanes Saturday at 10 p.m. (again, they'll reopen by 8 a.m. Sunday). This is so crews can set bridge beams, just like our closure.

Why the time change
The work in Austin was pre-planned for this weekend and coordinated up thataway. Our closure in Schertz was initially set for next week but pushed up due to inclement weather forecasts for next week.
Normally we require two weeks' notice from the contractor for any major closure so we can get things published well in advance. This requirement was set aside so we could move forward without adding delay to the project (planning for next weekend isn't possible; we prohibit major closures over Easter weekend).
This was only permitted because the closure will effectively impact overnight traffic only, avoiding impacts for long durations or during critical traffic hours. It will not be the new norm.

Mail Bag: A whole lot of I-10 stuff, FM 1103 at I-35, US 281 at the Guadalupe River

I'm curious about some of the project dates on this web site. On the Upcoming Projects page, the project to build the bridge over I-10 at Balcones Creek Road and convert the frontage roads to one-way between Fair Oaks Parkway and the Bexar-Kendall county line is scheduled to start in 2018. The project to expand the US 87 and TX 46 bridges over I-10 and convert the frontage roads to one-way between Scenic Loop Road and TX 46 is also scheduled to start in 2018.
However, the project to convert the frontage roads to one-way between Scenic Loop Road and the Bexar-Kendall county line is shown as starting in 2026. Is that a mistake, or will the other projects actually take 8 years to complete before this project is required?
Also, can you share an estimated completion date for the Fair Oaks Parkway bridge over I-10?
- Lee
Those dates are drawn from our project tracker, which pulls from our Unified Transportation Program. The UTP is updated every year and gives a comprehensive look at our 5- and 10-year plans. The middle segment, between Scenic Loop Road and the Bexar-Kendall county line, is placed last on the list of segments to be finished for one-way frontage roads conversion due to budgeting constraints. We'll start before 2026 if we can secure the funds to do so.
Each of those projects, which will often move forward concurrently, will take about three years to finish (that's a generic time range for reference; each project has its own timeframe).
As for the completion of the Fair Oaks Parkway bridge over I-10, RELMCo Inc. is on pace to have that wrapped up this summer. That's summer 2018. As in just a few months from now.


First of all, thanks for the great work you do with the mailbag. It’s always a fun - and informative - read!
I’ve been curious about the use of panels on Wurzbach Parkway over Blanco Road. These are the green wall-like structures that prevent drivers on Wurzbach Pkwy from looking down onto Blanco. To put it simply: what purpose do they serve?
Similar overpasses of the Parkway over West Ave., Jones Maltsberger, Nacogdoches, and Perrin-Beitel don’t have these panels. What’s special about Blanco?
- Juan
First of all, thank you and you're welcome!

Those panels are visual barriers, preventing the headlights of evening drivers from peering into apartment windows immediately adjacent to Wurzbach Parkway right there. It also maintains some semblance of privacy for the residents. You should find similar visual barriers along the eastbound lanes of Wurzbach Parkway over Perrin-Beitel.
While there is an apartment complex at the corner of West Avenue and Wurzbach, it is set far enough back from the highway and is separated from the parkway with a strip of trees. These natural barriers eliminate the need for the visual barrier panels you're seeing at Blanco.


Who is responsible for the timing of the signals on Hausman at 1604? In both directions the signal on the near side of 1604 turns green at the same time as the signal on the far side.
- Jim
Those signals are timed by the city of San Antonio. We'll reach out to our friends there to ask they take a look at the issue.


Thank you for the post about speed limits on I-10. I think I am the only one driving 60 mph and cars ride my bumper and pass me like crazy. Please add more speed limit signs and the LED reader boards. Thank you.
- Beth
We're happy to do what we can to improve the safety along any highway corridor. We'll take a look at this and other corridors and see if there are any additional signs we can add to improve awareness of the speed limits. That said, what typically helps the most in this area is enforcement of the speed limit, which we understand will be increasing as work continues to move forward.


With the bridge replacement project on I-35 at FM 1103, we know that the turn around lanes have been added to the original project. The last we had heard the move of the exits IS NOT included on this project. The northbound 35 exit to 1103 is already too close to 1103 and adding the turnaround lane will compound that issue. Have the plans changed to address the exits or what will it take to prevent the inevitable crashes that will happen frequently on a short exit with turnaround lanes?
- Jeff

The turnarounds were included with the project when it bid and were part of the actual design of the project. They may not have been part of the package presented in public meetings but were certainly part of the plans when we got bids from contractors.
The distance between the end of the ramp and the start of the intersection, heading north, is about 600 feet. We actually have design standards giving us the desired distance at an intersection like this. The total volume of the frontage road and the ramp is less than 2,500 vehicles per hour. The total traffic volume of FM 1103 at this location is just a shave higher than 750 vehicles per hour. We have three or more lanes for traffic to weave between the ramp and the intersection.

As you can see, Table 3-16 shows we like to have at least 460 feet between the end of the ramp and the intersection at a location like this. We have about 600 feet, exceeding by more than 30 percent the design requirements for an approach like this.
Knowing we've exceeded the design criteria as we have, we are confident this location will continue to be a safe intersection enjoyed by all.


Is there any plan to go back between Huebner and DeZavala to add an entrance to I-10 west? The only entrance that is left is very dangerous with all the traffic from the Huebner area merging with the Fredericksburg road traffic to merge to get onto I-10 west then merge with all the traffic getting off at UTSA Blvd.
- Max
The short answer here, Max, is no. The distances involved out there are beyond adequate to handle what we've got, and since we've had the current configuration in place (it's been a few years) we've seen no crash data to suggest any real hazard. It's actually in line with the standard used across the country. Adding another entrance to westbound I-10 would be redundant and actually create hazards.
If you don't remember the way the road was configured prior to the project in 2012 that built I-10 between Huebner and Lp 1604 as you know it today, we actually had two on ramps from Huebner Road. We eliminated one as a way to improve safety, and that safety enhancing configuration is the one you're seeing today.


I am still wondering about the I-10 project from Ralph Fair to fair oaks Ranch. According to the info provided at the open house the schedule for this project was:

• Begin Construction ― I-10 improvements (frontage road conversion, ramp reversals, and Old Fredericksburg Rd / Buckskin Dr overpass): Fall of 2015
• Fair Oaks Pkwy Bridge: Fall of 2016
• Construction time ― I-10 improvements: Approximately 2 Years
• Construction time ― Fair Oaks Pkwy Bridge: Approximately 1 Year

That indicates that the I-10 improvements was to run from Fall 2015 2 years to Fall 2017. It is now early Spring 2018 and this project is several months from being done. It appears to me the contractor under-resourced this project from the start.
What happened? Weather can not be blamed for all this delay. What is a realistic completion date now?
-Bob
Bob, we're glad you asked. First off, timetables given at those open house meetings are based on best engineering guesses with the plans not fully fleshed out. When you got these dates we didn't have full plan sheets drawn out and the target timeframes were goals to be met.
We began work on the I-10 improvements late March 2016 - a six-month delay from our intended start date due to some utility conflicts in the area - with a timeline of just over two years. We still have a few months from time expiring on the contract. If work isn't complete at that point we'll charge liquidated damages for each day the project continues beyond the contracted completion date. While we don't decide for the contractor the resources they ought to commit to a project, the consequence at the end of the job is, essentially, the contractor working for free (which is bad business for any private business).
By the way, the Fair Oaks Parkway bridge project began early 2017 with an 18-month schedule. We are currently on track to finish before the end of the school year, which is actually a bit ahead of the contract requirement.
One last thing: You'll recall in the open house we discussed totally closing the bridge and having it built in one piece to meet that construction timeline of a year. That plan was scrapped at the behest of those attending the open house who didn't like the idea of eliminating access to the bridge long-term. We were clear at the time the requested construction process would about double the duration of the project.


What is the estimated time to completion for the work at US 281 and the Guadalupe river? Also, what is being done? Thanks.
- John
This is a project that's really run under the radar, despite being a fairly major project up in Comal County. Thanks for bringing it out for us, John.
We are updating the southbound bridge deck over the Guadalupe River. That means a new bridge deck, new bridge rail (replacing the steel barrier with concrete barrier), cleaning up the bridge structure and the like. We've also recently added some pavement repair to the scope of work on the project.
All told work should be finished next summer (that is, Summer 2019). Between now and then you'll see a variety of traffic shifts. As those happen we'll do our best to get them posted here.

Mail Bag: West Military at Lp 1604, I-10 developments, FM 1103 and the New Braunfels Ave Bridge

I live in Rogers Ranch, and we see construction signs posted on Rogers Ranch Parkway for work on the intersection with 1604. Can you tell us what will be done there? We hope it will add turnaround lanes.
- Michael
Michael, we had several of your neighbors reach out on this. Perhaps you've already gotten word ... but if not, please spread the word now.
We've got a simple overlay project going on between Rogers Ranch Pkwy and Bandera Road. That means we'll be shaving off the top 2 inches or so of asphalt and replacing it with a fresh layer of asphalt. Work on the main lanes is overnight only - that stuff won't happen until we get back to warmer temperatures. During the daytime we're allowing the contractor to move forward with the frontage roads.
All told, you'll see us doing this work for the next nine months.
No turnaround lanes are coming ... yet. We do have a future project adding turnarounds, but we're about two years from seeking bids on that one. Sorry it's not sooner.

Just a quick observation on the I-10 east at 1516 frontage road conversion to one-way. Converting the frontage roads to one-way before the 1516 intersection improvements was a horrible idea and potentially more unsafe than two-way. There is lots and lots of traffic from the landfill and other businesses along the southern frontage road between Foster and FM 1516 that now has to travel east to the four-way stop at 1516. This has the frontage road extremely backed up. The exit ramp to 1516 is also backed up onto the highway causing an extremely unsafe condition of waiting to exit on the shoulder with traffic passing inches away at 70-plus miles per hour. It might be a good idea to get started on the 1516 intersection improvements soon!
- Marshall
Turnarounds at FM 1516 and Loop 1604 are not happening until a future project; those are not included in this project. That goes for the traffic signals at FM 1516 as well.
You'll see some improvement when the intersection at Woodlake Parkway is finished in 2018, and Texas Sterling Construction is working to build up the inside halves of the frontage roads so they can also build the new exit and entrance ramps. Both of these will help quite a bit.
Ultimately the decision to fast-track the conversion of frontage roads was made by our area engineer, who felt strongly this would improve safety by eliminating early the two-way frontage roads.

Why does TXDOT San Antonio keep listing Schertz as Selma in your weekly construction-related closures? Confusing.
- Concerned Citizen
We'd like to blame a map that's not incredibly clear on boundaries:

We drove through I-35 over the weekend to verify city limits and checked with our stakeholder lists, and found Selma isn't really involved here. We apologize for the error and any confusion it's brought - we should have verified this long ago. We have adjusted the most recent closures post to reflect the correction.

There have been a lot of crashes along I-10 between Boerne and 1604 since the recent construction projects. Is the traffic behaving as modeled? Should we anticipate further construction progress due to the continued development in the area?
- Rob
Any time a crash happens you can probably bet traffic isn't behaving as modeled.
We're not seeing a statistical spike in crashes along the I-10 corridor right now, but these crashes are typically more dramatic when a project is active.
As for continued development ... yes! We have a few major jobs still on their way over the next five years:

• Conversion of frontage roads to one-way between Fair Oaks Parkway and Balcones Creek
• Construction of a new overpass at Balcones Creek Parkway
• Conversion of frontage roads to one-way between Balcones Creek and Scenic Loop Road
• Conversion of frontage roads to one-way between Scenic Look Road and Hwy 46

Just to give you an idea.


What is going on with Military Drive West? We're currently on "traffic switch" number 2 but there is a new sign advising of a traffic switch on 18-18-17 - I assume that's supposed to be 10-18-17? Does this mean the traffic direction is going back to normal for now or are we going to be going sideways while driving backwards?
- Kim

Apologies for the typo in the digital message board. Those happen from time to time and we do our best to catch the issues quickly.
Where we know and have published several stages of traffic shifts, a generic "traffic switch" message on a board should alert folks to the next phase happening.
More to the point at this location: we will have the left turn lanes opened up in about a month (by time we reached the 18th we had traffic all where it started, except those turn lanes) with fresh striping to keep everyone in their lane. That will only last about 6-8 months, though, as we'll be ready to move traffic over onto the frontage road at that spot summer 2018.

I don't have a question....just a comment! I think you should KEEP the New Braunfels Avenue Bridge the way it is with the wonky arches.....it's one of a kind and a funny story!!!!
- Marci
We're glad you appreciated the story out there and are able to find some humor in it. We're still not going to keep the wonky arches. As we explained in our post the arches will be re-done once the remainder of the bridge is built and we can move traffic away from the edge there.

On the La Cantera Pkwy to Ralph Fair Rd project, I thought the work is only done on the inside lanes. Why are barriers being set on the outside as well? Also what is being done to the drain structure when going westbound right before Ralph Fair Rd light on Leon Creek? I thought that was done during the previous project?
- Danko
Let's start with the building one side and the other thing.
We're building on both sides of the road - first to the inside, then to the outside. In order to make room to fully build the new HOV lanes on the inside of the current main lanes, we're adding some "temporary" pavement to the outside. This will allow us to shift traffic over just a few feet so we can really get going on that inside lane.
As for the drain structure work that seems to be redone, we're not really re-doing any work done by Texas Sterling Construction in the previous project. Here we've got box culverts running under the main lanes of I-10 that need to be extended for the additional width of the highway.

Mail Bag: Lp 1604, I-10, FM 1103 and safety

I'm trying to find images, drawing or visual representations on how Loop 1604 and Wiseman is supposed to look like after the construction.
- Guy
We have the materials presented at public meetings posted online, including the schematic of the overall project. Enjoy!

Why are so many electronic message boards being erected along I-10? I count five new ones between Boerne and Kerrville.
- Tim
To be honest, Tim, this was the idea of our folks out in San Angelo. They had been using portable message boards during the winter to key in road conditions updates for drivers. The problem: portable message boards require a guy on-site to update the messages.
Dynamic message boards serve as a very effective means to transmit information to drivers. This is particularly true during major weather events when we have highway obstructions we need to advertise in real time.
For those who remember, we had to close I-10 in various places in West Texas due to ice during storms Kronos and Goliath. The closures created a gridlock scenario with some motorists - particularly big rigs - getting stranded. If we had in place a dynamic messaging system (like we are now installing) at the time the situation could have been mitigated by allowing motorists to get off the highway and detour to other locations. That's what we're about here with this effort.
In fact, we're installing about 30 new signs between Boerne and Sheffield. There are talks of adding signs beyond that - perhaps all the way to El Paso. These signs will be connected to our TransGuide base of operations in San Antonio and be available to the folks in the San Angelo District Operations Center.
The whole project costs us about $3 million. That includes the cost of cameras mounted atop these signs, giving us not only messaging capability but a real-time look at highway and traffic conditions at some pretty remote locations. The end product for you will be not unlike the system of mountain pass cameras used in some states, like Washington.
We should have everything installed and ready for use before winter hits us this year.

I keep seeing damage to the cable guard rails in the median between the lanes of I-10 West from San Antonio to Boerne. Are there any studies or statistics on how many head on collisions they may have prevented? How expensive are they to repair when someone "takes advantage of them?"
- Scott
Cable median barriers are relatively new in the American highway scene - they really came into vogue about a decade ago. Prior to using these cable medians no positive barrier was used, or a type of barrier was used carrying burdensome costs. New York was the first to employ the cable barriers and the Federal Highway Administration posted a 2006 paper extolling their virtues. They've since caught on across the country.
The truth is, every location you see damaged cable is a potential fatality averted. Cross-median collisions (when a vehicle travels across the grass median and strikes an oncoming vehicle, most often head-on) are among the most fatal collisions we see on our highways. The aim of these barriers is preventing these.
Cable barrier is way cheaper to install than concrete is, even if the upkeep is slightly more expensive. Some repair costs - about 20 percent - are offset by insurance claims for us locally.
By the way, we spend somewhere around $400,000 each month (not a typo) on guardrail repairs. That figure includes steel guardrail, crash cushions and cables.

In regards to the expansion project between The RIM and Ralph Fair Road starting September 11th, can we get a detailed plan on how you are planning to minimize the amount of traffic that is invariably going to occur for the next 3 years? I agree we need to do the expansion, but hopefully we learned some lessons from the first I-10 expansion from UTSA to Huebner where the traffic was unbearable and accidents were an all-too-common occurrence. For the sake of everyone's sanity during this time, please tell us you've got something figured out to keep the flow of traffic to a non-road-rage inducing level. You could literally spend an hour getting from Huebner to the RIM during those days, and I don't want to have to do the same again getting from the RIM to RFR!
- Gerard
Well, Gerard, the two projects are pretty much apples and oranges. With the I-10 Huebner project we were adding lanes to the outside (right-hand side) of the highway and we did a lot of work on the ramps. That work on the ramps was a large part of the traffic control issues you saw.
There are a slew of variables that make the comparison a poor one, but we'll keep things simple here.
On the project we're doing now a lot of the work will be done on the inside (left-hand side) and we're not closing any ramps (beyond overnight stuff). We are not reconfiguring any ramps. We are not changing your current traffic alignments or reducing capacity at all.
Honestly, this project is really straightforward and we're out of the way for the most part. Will you see slower traffic? Probably - it's a natural byproduct of the orange signs and barrels. We won't complain about that, ourselves; the slower traffic goes through our office, the safer our workplace is and better our odds of returning home safely each day. But more to your point the daily commute shouldn't be impacted negatively too badly through the project. In fact, you'll see some pretty immediate relief with one new lane (we're building two each way) being opened for your use as soon as early 2019.

What is going on with 1103 Bridge Replacement? You reported on August 8th it was beginning that week. Later delayed until September 5th. Now nothing. Is it now being delayed due to Harvey related repairs?
- Jeff
Work on the FM 1103 overpass officially began September 18 and was delayed for a few reasons - Harvey being one of them.
Those of you not named Jeff, this question was posed twice in a four-week span ... once earlier in August and again just after Harvey hit. We had a few issues pushing us back on the start time, including inconvenient weather patterns and some scheduling gaffes. The good news is a delayed start means little to no impact on drivers.
With work now started the clock is ticking, though. We'll have updates available here as they are pertinent.

When will Military Dr W return to its normal lane configuration?
- Mike
When this traffic shift started the plan was to have things back to normal by September 1. Well, we then got hit with some weather issues in August and had some permitting issues with Bexar County. Then Harvey it. Now we're getting rained on.
Long story short, Mike, we're hoping to have things back to normal by Halloween.
We will have to switch it around one more time to match the intersection to the new southbound frontage road - a task currently anticipated for summer of 2018.

I have seen your advocacy of the "zipper" or late merge. I understand in principle why it should be better than early merging, but I think you neglect to take into consideration two factors that work together to make it impractical in practice. First, there is the law that requires merging traffic to yield. Second is human nature, and the specific driving culture of Texas big cities, which is extremely competitive. Trying to get someone to let you over in ANY situation where you need to change lanes is difficult because people just don't want to give up their position or be behind another car. Add to that in zipper merging the perception that the late merger is "cutting" in front of the line (something most of us were taught was rude since preschool) it's a heavily ingrained sociological problem. Blogs and citing studies won't change that, so what else are you going to do to change the driving culture in Texas?
- Mark
That's a great question, Mark. In short we are still having internal discussions about just how far we want to go as a state to promote the move. As our explanatory post points out some states use fixed and digital highway signs and others have launched full-out awareness campaigns. We aren't sure yet whether we're going to jump onto the bandwagon fully or if we're going to simply advance messaging done by others.
We will point out the "me-first" attitude of too many drivers is not exclusive to Texas; it really is global. The Zipper isn't about being first or not cutting, though - it's about taking turns. And that's a behavior about which even Kindergarteners know well.

Could someone look into the signal timing on the I-10 frontage roads at Dominion Drive? The westbound frontage road has extended green lights in the afternoon to handle the large volume of traffic; as appropriate. However, in the morning, the westbound frontage road still has extended green lights to the detriment of the eastbound frontage roads which now have the largest volume of traffic. This seems way out of balance vis-a-vis the traffic flows.
- Dave
You bet, Dave! We'll be happy to look into this issue and ensure the signal is running optimally vis-à-vis your daily commute (and others).

Mail bag: I-35 SAMMC, Loop 1604 expansion, project starts

I just wanted to write in to thank you all for the new northbound 35 Rittiman exit. I think this new configuration is profoundly changing lives because of the new configuration. All of the inconsiderate jockeying that used to occur within the short confines of the old exit is now gone. No longer will traffic back up onto the highway, thus slowing down 35N, and everyone can choose their desired lanes far in advance of the intersection. I can't wait to see those auxiliary lanes finished to clear up the 410/35N bottleneck. Hats off to TxDOT and Lane Construction.
- Marshall
Thanks, Marshall! We have passed along the kudos to our field staff. They rarely get to hear kind words like these, and it means quite a lot to them! Since you wrote in, of course, we finished up those northbound I-410 lanes to northbound I-35 and are glad to see the positive impacts already being felt. We are on pace to knock the entire project out by the end of 2017.

I am curious on the start date of the I-10 expansion from 1604 to Ralph Fair. Your last update on this project said it would start Aug-Sept of this year. Is it still on schedule to start that soon?
- Robert
We are working on a full post for this project's kickoff ... so let's consider this your spoiler. (That means you shouldn't read the rest of this sentence unless you really want to know....) Our official start date is slated for September 5. We are planning a ceremonial groundbreaking the following week. More details are coming.

I have traveled between I-35 and 1604 daily for 10 years. I watch in dismay every time more land is cleared to build another building or apartment complex that will add additional cars on 1604. Have you ever considered adding a new lane by restriping the road? We don't need a shoulder on both sides, and by restriping you could add an another lane (even over bridges). I've studied it for years. The 281 cluster is miserable going eastbound.
- Linda
You know, our communications folks thought the same thing when they started working and had a very similar conversation with our engineers when first hired. We all wish the solve would be so simple.
Let's first address the need for those shoulders on both sides. Shoulders are a safety feature on expressways and are placed on both sides of a highway where possible. Without these shoulders speed limits could be reduced per our speed limits standards. Shoulders also provide a shelter for cars with mechanical troubles or that have been involved in a traffic collision. It's true we don't have dual shoulders lining each expressway, but that is certainly the standard we aspire to. We are not interested in eliminating that safety feature where it's firmly established.
Even if we could restripe the road to add the lane we would still need the clearance through the Federal Highway Administration. This approval is often referred to as environmental clearance. Our needs on Loop 1604 are way beyond what a simple restriping would provide anyway - and that's why the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has the expansion of this heavily trafficked road on our statewide Unified Transportation Program. Any time a road is at 130 percent capacity right now we need to make an adjustment. The bottom line, Linda, is we are working hard at making the needed improvements. The proposed project will cost about $550 million to make happen. After all, if we're going to do it we want to make sure it's done right the first time.

What is the current status and upcoming schedule for the reconstruction of the bridge over I-35 at 1103 in Schertz? Local taxpayers helped fund this back in 2014 and 2015 and I would like to see that work actually begin.
- Jeff
Jeff asked this question just before we posted our announcement of the project starting a couple of weeks ago. Others should take a look at the post to see we will start September 5.

I have only lived here 3 years but found that many times there are signs saying "lane closed ahead", I move to the open lane and then find that the "closed" lane really isn't. If the lane isn't closed why can't the construction people cover the sign or lay it down or pick it up...whatever. I'm finding the signs hard to believe as I'm sure other people don't believe them either.
- Sharon
We're sorry to hear of your experience, Sharon. We work hard to ensure such signs, when not in use, are picked up from state-maintained highways. We also work with our agency partners who also do road work, like the city of San Antonio and a variety of utility companies, to make sure they are reaching for the same standard.

Thank you for the informative post on the Cibolo Parkway project. One line caught my attention: "What we have in mind is a $25 million expansion that will make FM 1103 a four-lane road with center medians, sidewalks and shoulders allowing for safe bike riding." Does this imply that there will not be official bike lanes on FM 1103?
That is not what was understood from public information meetings, etc. This is an important bike thoroughfare that connects many residential neighborhoods to businesses and schools. It is used even in its current configuration (albeit risky) by bicyclists young and old. I know Schertz would even prefer to see a multi-use path along FM 1103 according to its Master Thoroughfare Plan. Just hoping to clarify that we will indeed see bike lanes on FM 1103! Thanks.
- John
We agree with you about the importance of including bike lanes in our capital improvement projects. It's our policy to include accommodations for such facilities. That's most often done by including widened shoulders - typically four or more feet wide - that serve bicycle traffic safely as well. The primary purpose of these lanes is, indeed, for bike traffic.

Can you provide the details of the traffic switch that is being advertised on the 13th of August, for FM471 between Old FM471 & 1560.
- Benjamin
Regarding the construction along 471 aka Culebra: how long will the entrance to Stillwater Ranch be closed? Hoping to see it open before school starts. Thanks!
- Terri
We do not have information on this project. It is being overseen by Bexar County Public Works

FM 1103 bridge starts this week

Edit: due to weather impacts and some scheduling conflicts the start date has been pushed further than expected. Blog below has been updated with the new start date.


A $7.2 million project expanding the FM 1103 bridge over I-35 in Schertz starts the night of September 5 and will wrap up by spring 2019.
Local company Anderson Columbia won the contract to make the bridge five lanes wide (plus turnarounds) and will be churning through a six-day workweek to finish construction as fast as possible.

What's being done

The existing bridge has two lanes; the new
bridge will have five plus turnarounds.

The incredible growth in Schertz and Cibolo has overwhelmed the old two-lane bridge (and, quite honestly, FM 1103 itself ... but there's a whole other post dedicated to that issue).
The new bridge will have five lanes with priority given to getting traffic off FM 1103 headed toward San Antonio. Two eastbound lanes will include one through lane and one optional lane. Three westbound lanes will include a left-only lane, an optional lane and a through lane getting traffic onto Hubertus Road (which is also growing...). Turnarounds will be built on each side of the new bridge.
All this work should position the intersection to appropriately meet the demands of the growing suburban communities depending on this location so heavily.
Oh, yeah, and we'll also upgrade the traffic signals and pedestrian facilities while we're out there.

Getting from here to there
Our biggest priority is minimizing the impact on daily traffic through the duration of construction. That's what our aim is with every project, in fact.
The first thing the good folks of Anderson Columbia will be working on is the new westbound portion of the bridge, including the south-to-north turnaround. That first half of the bridge should be finished before summer 2018.
At that point traffic will be moved onto the new half of the bridge and the existing bridge will be torn out. The eastbound portion of the bridge and the north-to-south turnaround will be built. During this phase of work the bridge will serve westbound traffic only. Those who would use the eastbound portion of the bridge will need to head south to FM 2252, turn around and return to the intersection.

The long detour
First ... why would we do something like this when we work so hard to minimize impact? Traffic data shows the largest demand on the bridge - by far - is the westbound side. This arrangement will actually relieve traffic issues in the area today long before the bridge is complete. It's not something we would typically do, but our engineers believe this is the right way to go.
The duration for this traffic arrangement is expected to last more than six months - not an indefinite length by any means, but certainly long enough to warrant folks gearing up for this.
Remember this will begin before the start of summer 2018, and likely wrap up around the end of the year.

Shorter detours
Everyday work activities will be done mostly behind concrete barricades without disrupting traffic. This is an around-the-clock operation, so expect crews to be out there 24 hours a day, six days a week.
Major closures will be limited to nights and, on occasion, weekends. The weekend closures will come as we need to hang support beams and demolish the existing bridge. Those closures will be announced with at least two weeks' notice.

Mail bag: Is TxDOT involved with the Cibolo Parkway project?

This edition will address a single question we've gotten because, well, we've gotten the question a few times and it will take a bit to clearly respond. That question revolves around the proposed Cibolo Parkway, a locally funded project in Cibolo. The question goes something like this:

Why is a toll road happening in Cibolo and why is TxDOT involved with it?
- some folks from the Cibolo area

There are a few issues implied in the question, and it'll take some doing to answer it completely. We'll take it one issue at a time.

It's not our project

The Texas Department of Transportation is not providing any funds for this project. TxDOT is not providing design consultation, or design services for this project. TxDOT is not providing feasibility studies for this project. TxDOT is not requesting the city of Cibolo to do this project. TxDOT is not providing construction inspection or engineering services for this project. TxDOT is not providing any project oversight on this project. TxDOT is not involved wiht the development of this project in any way. There is no other way we can be more clear - the proposed local project known as the Cibolo Parkway is not a TxDOT project and TxDOT has no involvement with its development.
Who is involved, then? The city of Cibolo. And ... well ... that's pretty much it.

Connection to FM 1103
Any new roads or driveways proposing to connect to any state-maintained road requires TxDOT approval per the Texas Administrative Code. The current proposed path of the Cibolo Parkway would indeed connect with FM 1103 and the Texas Transportation Commission would need to approve the connection.

When the city submits a complete proposal, including all geometric schematics, the Texas Transportation Commission will review and consider for approval connection to the state system (here meaning FM 1103).
This is no different than the connection of any other road to the state system and should not imply TxDOT affiliation with the proposed project any more than TxDOT would be affiliated with a private development connecting a major collector road to the state system.

FM 1103 expansion
Some have claimed the proposed expansion of FM 1103 is tantamount to TxDOT subsidization of the proposed Cibolo Parkway.

Frankly we're not sure how those making this claim reach such a conclusion. While do have a proposed expansion to FM 1103 - after all, it's our responsibility to maintain and develop roads on the current state highway system - this proposal is entirely independent of the proposed local project and planning for the expansion predates the city's proposal. Even the city's web page on the Cibolo Parkway project notes we identified a need to expand FM 1103 at least a decade ago, though TxDOT denied at the time local requests to extend FM 1103 to I-10. This denial came because of challenges with funding and a concern over right-of-way acquisition.
What we have in mind is a $25 million expansion that will make FM 1103 a four-lane road with center medians, sidewalks and shoulders allowing for safe bike riding. This project extends between I-35 and Rodeo Way and is currently targeted for a late 2019/early 2020 start. Funding for the FM 1103 expansion comes from a combination of local contributions and traditional state funds.
This work follows the expansion of the FM 1103 bridge over I-35 (a project that kicked off just last week).

MPO role
The Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which coordinates the entirety of transportation planning efforts in the region, has included the proposed Cibolo Parkway as a privately funded project in its transportation plan. While TxDOT does have a seat at the table with the MPO, inclusion of the project in the MPO transportation plan doesn't mean TxDOT has any actual link to the project.
In fact inclusion on the transportation plan doesn't even obligate any MPO funds (which do include TxDOT resources). The project does not have any allocated state or federal funds in the 10-year plan of the MPO. All claims to the contrary are simply incorrect.

Mail Bag: Insurance claims, future plans on a few corridors and more

A quick slog of questions for you this week ... as a reminder, we only take a look at emails submitted through the blog every week or two. If you have a more pressing question regarding an issue right away, reach out to us directly.

I see you have been getting a lot of questions lately about redesigning ramps because drivers aren't paying attention and smash guardrails on a frequent basis. Does TxDOT have the power to bill the at fault party or their insurance for this damage? I am not one for government regulation but if this law isn't on the books it should be. Drivers that cause this damage should be responsible for paying for it.
- Zane
The short answer, Zane, is yes. When part of our highway system is damaged - guardrail, a signal pole or control cabinet, light pole, crash cushion, whatever - we file a claim against the drivers' insurance. In that, we run the same gamble any driver does the driver may or may not be insured, and insurance companies must determine fault ... but we do go through the claims process on each collision causing damage to our road system.

Congestion on I-35 between new Braunfels and San Antonio has been steadily increasing, particularly during summers, spring breaks, weekends, and holidays. The slowdowns seem to be near key exits, such as Solms Road (southbound) and FM 1103 (northbound). Are there any plans for congestion relief in this area, such as additional lanes?
- JohnThe short answer is we always have a plan for expansion, but that doesn't really do us any good here. We have a number of ideas to help, each tailored to a different budget level. Operational improvements, like ramp revisions that put the congestion onto frontage roads rather than on the main lanes, can help as a relatively inexpensive ($150 million to do the whole corridor) stop-gap option. We're working on plans to do that, but you'll likely see work happen in bite-sized pieces as money becomes available.
As far as expanded capacity ... the big plan is to nearly double capacity between New Braunfels and downtown San Antonio. This effort would cost more than $2 billion, and we've simply not identified viable funding sources yet. These new lanes would be elevated, making I-35 a two-level highway that whole stretch.
Why not an in-between? Because, honestly, we don't have much room to grow out there. The topography and alignment of lanes is such that we just don't have anywhere to build a bunch of new lanes.
Efforts to make these plans - and see them through - are going through the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Will the exit and entrance ramps for FM 1103 be changed as part of the proposed bridge project? At the public meeting TxDOT representatives described moving them back further and creating a new exit-entrance ramp alignment.
- Randy
We do have plans to move those ramps ... but that won't be happening with the current $7.2 million bridge replacement project starting in a few weeks (note the expansion of FM 1103 itself isn't happening until 2019). As we said to John above the operational improvements are being planned now as work for later on, probably after 2020. We'll prioritize intersections to be improved, and there's little doubt FM 1103 will be near the top of our list.

When will the Loop 410 at SH 151 project be done enough to reopen the Leon Creek Greenway under 410?
- Mica
Williams Brothers is currently saying we should have the greenway back open by the end of summer. Weather has been a tough challenge with the bridge structures we're working on over Leon Creek and we're trying to find ways to recover some of our time there.


Are all the frontage roads between San Antonio and Fair Oaks (or Scenic Loop Road) going to be one direction when the construction is all said and done? Will Boerne Stage Road and/or Dominion Drive get dedicated exits if you are eastbound on I-10 (coming from Kerrville, for example)?
- TimYou got it, Tim! We're trying to convert all the frontage roads in the urbanized area to one-way, so when we're all said and done all those frontage roads will indeed be one-way. Heck, we're not done yet, either. We have plans to continue what we're doing all the way out to Boerne ... but it'll be a few years before we get that far out.
Eastbound traffic will have a dedicated exit to Dominion Drive where the old on-ramp was - it was opened up a couple of weeks ago (Tim wrote us last month). We don't have room to get one in there for Boerne Stage Road, though. That traffic will continue to use the Ralph Fair exit or use the Dominion Drive exit and turn around.

On the March 27th update on Old Fredericksburg Road, there was a link that showed a picture of an entrance ramp from the access road to west bound I-10 between Old Frederickburg Road and Fair Oaks Parkway. However, a highway exit ramp has been built where the picture shows the entrance ramp was going to be. Is that going to be permanent or will that ramp be replaced at a later time?
- John
I see on the schematic between Old Fredericksburg Road and Fair Oaks Parkway there is an onramp before FOP. Currently, an exit ramp has been built here which has not yet opened. Is the exit ramp temporary? Can you confirm what the final configuration will be, on or off ramp?
- JudyTo be honest our communications team had the same question when we took a look at it in the field as well. We're glad you all asked.
The ramps you see built are temporary ramps for detours that will be used when we have to shut down I-10 at Fair Oaks Parkway - weekend closures only, mind you - to set bridge beams or demolish the old bridge. Those ramps allow traffic to exit onto the frontage road, continue through the FOP intersection and re-enter the highway with minimal impact.
Once those closures are all done, we'll demolish the temporary ramps and the new ramps will be built (remember: we won't be converting the frontage roads to one-way between Old Fred and Fair Oaks until the new bridge is in action with a turnaround).
We don't have dates for the first of these closures (we anticipate ten full closures of I-10 before we're all finished, between now and the end of next year), but as soon as we do we'll shout them from the mountain tops.

Alamo Ranch Parkway currently loops around around Del Webb Blvd area. Is there future expansion to have Alamo Ranch parkway to run into Tally Road or beyond to (future) Highway 211?
- DeepThe short answer: yes, the master plan shows for Alamo Ranch Parkway to run beyond to a future Highway 211. That won't be built by TxDOT, though (ARP isn't a TxDOT road). The extension will be built by private developers as it's been built to date.
As for Hwy 211 ... we're working with Bexar County on that one. We're still working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to identify an appropriate footprint for the extension. We don't have a timeframe for when an opinion from USFWS is available; we expected to have something from them about four months ago and are still waiting.


On westbound Hwy 90 at FM 211, is anything going to be done about the dangers of the residents at The Mansions apartment complex entering a 70 mph highway? Someone needs to remind them that the shoulder is not an acceleration lane.
As I drive Hwy 90 daily and need to exit FM 211 I continually see residents leaving the complex and driving the shoulder at a slow rate of speed while highway drivers have to slam on the brakes not to hit them. Someone needs to remind them the shoulder is not a driving lane. It's a poor location choice for a giant apartment complex and understandably they have a difficult time leaving, but I shouldn't be in danger because they can't figure out how to enter the highway legally.
- garmel23
Actually, Garmel123, this behavior is perfectly legal and the residents of The Mansions should be praised for opting to use an improved shoulder - particularly one as large as what they have at this location - rather than jump right into active traffic and making a bigger issue. For clarification on the legality of this maneuver, you can see Texas Code 545.058, or simply read what the Texas Highwayman has on the topic.
We do understand the location is difficult for drivers. However, we are required to allow ingress and egress into a property here (the property is not connected to another road). The proximity of the driveway to the exit ramp to Hwy 211 would probably make an acceleration lane equally flustering for folks sharing your commute path.
However, in the long run, the problem will be solved when we extend frontage roads on US 90 beyond Loop 1604 through to Hwy 211. This would be done as part of a $90 million project that's penciled in to begin around 2023 and expands US 90 to a six-lane highway (adds one lane each way) between Hwy 211 and I-410.

What is the story with the resurfacing project on US 281 between Loop 410 and I-35? They look like they still need to finish a few lanes, in a few spots. Another project between 410 and Rhapsody already finished in just a few weeks.
- ScottThe scale of work is very different, with more in-depth work between I-35 and I-410. What's more, there is a lot more roadway between I-35 and I-410 than between I-410 and Rhapsody, and the work between I-410 and Rhapsody isn't actually wrapped up yet.

FM 1103 (bridge) expansion to begin

So, earlier this week we addressed a question about the FM 1103 overpass at I-35.


We goofed
The answer we gave then was partially wrong - an error we've found earlier today, and would like to clear up.
The question posed was about whether the bridge would be expanded to include turnarounds as part of the FM 1103 expansion planned for mid-2019. We correctly mentioned that project would not include a bridge expansion.
Where we made the mistake was inferring the bridge expansion would come at a much later date. We try hard to make sure our Mail Bag answers are accurate and on point; we missed the boat with this one.


The reality
We received bids on the FM 1103 bridge expansion project earlier this month. Anderson Columbia submitted the lowest bid at $7.3 million and, barring something unforeseen, should be awarded the contract by the Texas Transportation Commission later this month. We plan to actually begin work on the new bridge mid-summer this year (we do not yet have a start date). We should wrap up about the start of 2019.
That means the bridge should be open and fully functional well before our start on the FM 1103 expansion between I-35 and Rodeo Way.


Finished project
When it's all done, you'll have two eastbound lanes (headed toward Schertz from I-35) and three westbound lanes (one continuing onto Hubertus Road and two turning left onto the I-35 southbound frontage road). You'll also see turnarounds - in both directions - at the bridge. This configuration should significantly improve the flow of traffic at this increasingly busy intersection.


The daily impact
During the course of construction we'll maintain one lane of traffic in each direction. This will look much like what we've done along the I-10 corridor at the intersections of Ralph Fair Road and Fair Oaks Parkway. Occasional full closures of I-35 will be required, and we'll make sure we let folks know about them as they come. These will likely be very major closures, impacting traffic for entire weekends.
We take that kind of stuff seriously!
To reiterate, the bridge itself will remain open through the duration of construction; it'll keep the configuration you have today. That means though you'll see orange barrels everywhere, your daily delay into work will be no more than what you're experiencing now.
Funny how those orange barrels make it seem like a lot longer, though, right?

Mail Bag: I-10 stuff, FM 1103, US 281 and more

Part two, as promised....

Regarding the ARP/WWL intersection, I know TxDOT San Antonio has received a lot of complaints about this project. I really don't have a complaint, but a suggestion. I have noticed a lack of signage directing traffic on the SB 1604 Access road to the Santiko's entrance off of the SB 1604 Access Road. The only sign is a small one liner next to the entrance. I would suggest that TxDOT place directional signage prior to Alamo Ranch Parkway to direct SB 1604 traffic to the 1604 Santiko's entrance. This may help alleviate some of the illegal left-hand turns that are occurring at the ARP/WWL intersection.
- Benjamin
You're right, Benjamin, we have gotten a lot of feedback about this intersection. We'll be making a brief post on the intersection in the next week or so.
In the meantime, you've asked a pretty common question - why not sign for Santikos off the southbound frontage road of Loop 1604? The short answer: we can't.
That little sign you're seeing was put up by Santikos. We are aware of its existence, and we're tolerating it for now. We can't put bigger signs up, and we can't direct traffic to a specific business. That's all called advertising, and TxDOT is not in the business of advertising private businesses on our right-of-way.
Santikos is welcome to do what they can to elevate the awareness of that entrance among their patrons through advertising - but cannot advertise in our right-of-way.

Why no closure info this week? Specifically looking for info on US90 Gen McMullen closure.
- Dave
Dave sent this note in to us a few weeks ago, for those wondering what he's talking about.
Dave, we're sorry we missed that post! The blog is run by a very small staff, and when we're out of the office we don't get a chance to post some of that info. The closures are sent to us by project staff and are due to communications staff by Friday at noon. That doesn't always happen. The result: we are unable to pre-load a post for next week's closures beyond getting it put together on Friday afternoons.
When we're gone on Fridays, we do what we can to get the post up as soon as we can. For instance: this week's closures were sent to media Friday early afternoon but not posted until earlier today.
We're sorry!

Y'all recently did repair work in the area of mile marker 194 on I-35 southbound. The outside lane has a section of repair that does not look like it was completed or was completed poorly. It has a rut in it that can catch a driver off guard and move a small vehicle especially, to the right unexpectedly. I drive the area everyday in a small car. Even knowing it's there it can be disturbing when I can't change lanes.
- Bob
We're still working on the rehab of the asphalt out there in that area, so we'll make sure that area gets an extra look for you, Bob. Hopefully we can address the pavement issue soon.

Do you have any updates on the FM 1103 project in Schertz & Cibolo? I have not seen the plans since the open house about a year ago. Will the bridge at I-35 get turnarounds? It would be great to see something nice similar to what TxDOT Austin did at Yarrington Road in Kyle. I like what they did, but there are a lot of busy exits that do not have turnarounds like that!
- John
For starters we're eyeing mid-2019 to get bids on the expansion of FM 1103 between I-35 and Rodeo Way. Those who missed the open house can see what we talked about online here. Heck, we've even got a summary and analysis of our public meeting there.
The quick answer to where things are at: we're busy in the right-of-way acquisition process. This can take a while, and we want to be sure it's all done before we bid the contract. Between now and then we'll make adjustments to the project as needed, but it looks like the bulk of the design presented at the open house will be what you see.
As for the bridge ... that's not part of the existing project. We'll get to that bridge reconstruction in the near future, but it's not currently included in the FM 1103 expansion. We have it on our radar, though, and as soon as we can afford to make it happen we will.


Has there been any studies on the traffic signals on UTSA Blvd and I-10 recently? Almost constantly, those turning left from the bridge of UTSA Blvd overpass towards the eastbound side will continue to keep turning for up to 15 seconds longer than the light allows. I've been at the intersection several times where I'll sit on a green for at least 20 seconds before even starting my accelerator (and the one time I didn't, I ended up in an accident). What can or should be done in this area?
- ReySounds to us, Rey, like you've got a law enforcement issue going on. Have you reached out to SAPD on this matter? Any time someone is running a light that would be a moving violation. To have them continue more than 20 seconds means your green time is completely shot (green lights at intersections like this typically only remain green 20 seconds or so). If that's what's happening, you've got a major law enforcement issue that needs addressed by law enforcement.


Now that the TTC has accepted the bid from Webber Construction for the expansion of US 281 north of Loop 1604 , when will we know more about the construction schedule including road closures and traffic diversions to the new frontage roads?
- Tom
We're planning to hold a groundbreaking ceremony March 31. We won't have details of closures until a few weeks prior to work actually beginning, which looks to be by early May. We'll post more about the overall project in an upcoming post.

Can you post a project summary of the expansion of FM 1957 (Potranco) from 1604 to 211? Specifically looking for an overall project plan and anticipated schedule. Thank you (we just moved into the area and want to know what to expect and when).
- Steve
Welcome, Steve, and thank you for your service to our nation!
The short answer to your question is that the expansion of Potranco Road is actually being done by Bexar County Public Works. We don't have updates here at TxDOT, but you can reach out to the folks at Bexar County for an update.

Where on the TxDOT web site can I find the plan for expanding I-10 from the Rim to Boerne. I see the intended closures on the blog but cannot find "the diagram/plan" for the on going work? Thank you in advance.
- Glenn
We have a few sets of schematics, Glenn. Pick your favorite:
The I-10 Kendall extension builds up I-10 between Fair Oaks Pkwy and Hwy 46, including a new overpass at Balcones Creek Road and conversion of the frontage roads to one-way.
Here's a look at the future HOV lanes on I-10 between Ralph Fair Road and La Cantera Pkwy.
This is our information on the current work at Scenic Loop Road (and NO we are not messing with the entrance and exit ramps as part of this project!).
We have the new overpass at Old Fred Road (with concurrent frontage road conversion between Ralph Fair and Fair Oaks) that's ongoing.
Finally, the work on I-10 between Ralph Fair Road and Dominion Drive - which is set to be done by the end of this month, by the way - has information available here.

Comal County projects roundup

It's been a while - like, since at least last year. Isn't it about time we gave a run-down on the happenings in and around Comal County?
Here's a look:

Walnut Hill
To put it simply, Dean Word Company is nearly three-quarters the way done with the project. The most visible portion of the project, though - the full closure of Walnut Avenue between Grandview and Floral - has been stretched even further over the last month. Initially slated to reopen mid-December, we are now looking at waiting for late March to reopen the roadway. The biggest reason here is safety.
The original plan called for opening Walnut Avenue to one lane each way. Concerns of rubber-necking through a canyon with limited sight distances has led project bosses to work with city officials and come to a later opening agreement.
A lot of work remains, but construction is progressing well. Crews have begun setting up a sound wall along the canyon and are finishing up drain structures. Perhaps nicest for those living in the immediate vicinity, cleanup at the top of the hill has begun while crews prepare to do concrete work.


Loop 337 at Ridge Hill
The striping contractor is scheduled to come through early next week to restripe the roadway and provide for a new left-turn lane. We are also working to add a new ditch line to the project and fix the barricades that have occasionally drifted into the travel lanes.

FM 1101
To be completely honest, we're still waiting on a private utility to complete work they began more than a year ago. Current estimates place completion of the utility work sometime this spring. We will then move forward with the project.

US 281 at Hwy 46
The biggest thing to report her is we're more than 80 percent of the way finished with this project. This project has admittedly moved extremely slow and we are assessing the contractor, CRG, appropriate liquidated damages. With the walls nearly complete, dirt crews will begin grading the new turnarounds next week with the aim to start laying asphalt by the middle of the month. We are holding bi-weekly meetings with the contractor to keep them moving, and hope to have work complete in time for summer.

FM 306
Hunter Industries is moving along well, working primarily on drain structures and extensions to existing box culverts. As a relatively new project, we don't have much else to report at this time. This project is scheduled to finish up in 2017.

I-35 ramp reversals
The only thing we really have left at this point is a quick resurfacing of the southbound frontage road. That should eliminate the issues we have with the glare during certain times of the day.

Upcoming projects
Lots of work is coming on the horizon, but here are the highlights:

• Resurfacing of I-35 between Solms Rd and the river. This work should start late spring or early summer. This should only feature overnight work.
• Pedestrian and bike facility improvements along Landa Street. This work will begin this summer.
• Rehabilitate Hwy 46 between I-35 and FM 758. This is an extensive repair job that will start this fall.
• Reconstruct the I-35 bridge at FM 1103 and widen FM 1103 between I-35 and Steele High School. This work is programmed for early 2017.
• Loop 337 expansion. We're actually working to make this a one-piece project rather than complete work in segments as initially planned. We hope to begin work mid-2017.
• Expansion of Hwy 46 in Bulverde. This is currently planned for late 2017.

Upcoming meetings
You're getting everything with this post! Don't miss out on some MAJOR meetings we have coming up. Mark these on your calendar and be sure to join us to give your thoughts on some very important issues:

• Feb. 16, 6p-8p at Eden Hill. Open house forum regarding future work on Loop 337.
• March 1, 6p-8p at the New Braunfels Civic Center. Metropolitan Planning Organization presentation on projects being considered for federal funding.
• March 3, 5p-7p at Smithson Valley High School. Open house forum regarding the expansion of Hwy 46 in Bulverde.
• March 29, 5p-7p at Steele High School. Open house forum regarding future work on FM 1103.