Forum Parkway area
We'll have an emergency closure of the Loop 1604 ramps onto northbound I-35 to fix the asphalt under the new Forum Parkway exit ramp. Those driving the area will notice this is the second or third time we've had to do this ... and there's a reason for that.
The new ramp from Loop 1604 onto northbound I-35 is driving on asphalt that wasn't previously used; that is, it's been shifted over from its initial location. The old asphalt beneath the new isn't as thick as the asphalt that once held traffic and is breaking up. Every time a patch is in place, the area around that patch begins to break apart.
In an ideal world we'd shut the ramp down and dig everything up, then totally reconstruct the roadway. But that's expensive and wasn't factored into the original plan sheets.
Working with what we've got already out there and in an effort to follow the plans, we've been patching the roadway. Instead of using the smaller patches that have been used out there, Angel Brothers Construction is going to use larger patches - essentially tire-to-tire - to help keep the surface intact. Monday morning they're scheduled to go in again and lay a final surface.
Whatever the technical side of the work is, if you're driving in the area be aware the ramp from Loop 1604 to northbound I-35 will be closed Friday morning and Monday morning - after the morning rush hour - to repair and surface the road.
FM 3009 area
Levy Construction - the electrician on the project - is working to get the lights at FM 3009 burnign by the middle of next week. Those lights are under the overpass, lighting the way for folks using the main lanes of I-35.
Dan Williams Company had concrete crews working on the curbs and sidewalks on the overpass earlier today, with mixing trucks delivering concrete as quickly as crews could get it out.
Paving crews will be ready to pave the turnaround and the intersection area at FM 3009 the middle of next week, if weather allows for it (remember: asphalt requires temperatures near 60 degrees). Three layers of asphalt remain to be placed before we can talk about putting traffic on the turnaround. The first layer is called "Type C", then a seal coat is added. The seal coat keeps the moisture levels in the base of the pavement where the levels need to be, allowing the pavement to get strong. On top of the seal coat is our final surface.
After the final surface is down - also scheduled for mid-week - and the road is striped, we'll be able to move the barriers protecting the workzone, opening up some space on the intersection to move everything into its final configuration.
Dan Williams project managers are working to schedule work to get the intersection marked to allow two left turn lanes in each direction across the FM 3009 overpass. The final configuration of the overpass will have three lanes in each direction: a left-only lane, an optional straight-or-left lane, a thru lane. The approach on the northbound frontage road will have the turnaround, a left-only, an optional straight-or-left, a thru and a right-only lane.
The southbound frontage road approaching the intersection will look the same, but that work will wait until the north-to-south area is finished.
By finishing the north-to-south turnaround, we'll be able to move the barriers along the southbound frontage road coming from FM 3009, allowing for the two lanes to handle the dual-left option coming from Schertz.
All that puts us on pace to have the intersection opened up (except the south-to-north turnaround) in time for Christmas.
Showing posts with label Forum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forum. Show all posts
Thursday, December 12
Wednesday, November 27
Santa opens the new Forum Parkway exit!
Santa helped open the northbound I-35
exit ramp to Forum Parkway this morning, and with the added effort of our
contractor (Dan Williams Construction) we’ve ensured that all roads are open to
Forum Parkway in time for Black Friday and the holiday shopping season.
The ramp closed earlier this year to be rebuilt as part of a $24 million project that enhances safety and addresses congestion along I-35 between Loop 1604 and Farm to Market 3009. The ramp bridges northbound traffic headed to Forum Parkway over traffic from Loop 1604 onto northbound I-35, separating traffic streams that previously competed for space using a zipper weave. The old ramps were adequate when the interchange was built, but growth fueled the need for change.
Celebrating the new ramp were representatives of the city of Selma, the city of Live Oak and representatives of The Forum at Olympia Parkway. With all roads open to Forum Parkway, our crews are as excited to move on to other portions of the project as the merchants in the area are about having unfettered access to their stores.
All work at Forum Parkway isn’t done, though. In order to be ready for the holiday weekend, a temporary layer of asphalt was put down during the cold snap through the weekend. The final layer will be placed next week, requiring a temporary daytime closure in the process. We’re coordinating that effort with local stakeholders to ensure minimal impacts.
The bottom line: all roads are open to Forum Parkway; Santa even made a trip to check it out twice!
The ramp closed earlier this year to be rebuilt as part of a $24 million project that enhances safety and addresses congestion along I-35 between Loop 1604 and Farm to Market 3009. The ramp bridges northbound traffic headed to Forum Parkway over traffic from Loop 1604 onto northbound I-35, separating traffic streams that previously competed for space using a zipper weave. The old ramps were adequate when the interchange was built, but growth fueled the need for change.
Celebrating the new ramp were representatives of the city of Selma, the city of Live Oak and representatives of The Forum at Olympia Parkway. With all roads open to Forum Parkway, our crews are as excited to move on to other portions of the project as the merchants in the area are about having unfettered access to their stores.
All work at Forum Parkway isn’t done, though. In order to be ready for the holiday weekend, a temporary layer of asphalt was put down during the cold snap through the weekend. The final layer will be placed next week, requiring a temporary daytime closure in the process. We’re coordinating that effort with local stakeholders to ensure minimal impacts.
The bottom line: all roads are open to Forum Parkway; Santa even made a trip to check it out twice!
Friday, November 1
Northbound I-35 exit to FM 3009 tabled ... for now
Closure of the northbound I-35 exit to FM 3009 has been tabled until the contractor working on the I-35 Selma project can responsibly allocate resources for the work.
This decision was made by the contractor, Dan Williams Construction. Right now the project's highest priority is getting the northbound exit to Forum Parkway finished so we can, in turn, reopen the ramps from Loop 1604 onto northbound I-35. This prioritization - and a bit of a shortage of laborers - has placed other tasks a little lower on the totem pole, so to speak.
Let's take all this one step at a time....
FM 3009 exit
First off, we're not closing the FM 3009 exit for at least a few weeks. And, with the current schedule putting us at a point to be ready for work until somewhere around Thanksgiving. But, since the businesses are dependent on the spending that happens through Turkey Day, that means we'll likely not be touching the ramp until after Thanksgiving.
Between now and then, we'll reconfigure the northbound frontage road approaching FM 3009 to allow more flow. First and foremost, that means traffic patterns will return to "normal" sometime early next week.
As for the exit closure? Again, we're looking at sometime after Thanksgiving at this point. When that happens, it will close for not more than three weeks while we adjust the ramp a bit and add a lane. When we're all done, the exit ramp will feature two lanes.
In the meantime, we're working where we can on the turnaround bridge(s). Frankly, the crews on the project that do the kind of concrete work needed there are committed to the Forum Parkway exit, so the schedule to open that turnaround has been pushed back a bit.
Forum Parkway
The top priority on the project - head and shoulders above other activities - is getting the northbound exit to Forum Parkway open in time for the holiday shopping season. Really, that means Thanksgiving is the deadline we're working on (so we can be out of the way for Black Friday).
Over the last two weeks we've hung bridge support beams and started setting bridge deck panels. Next week we're planning to pour the bridge deck. That is, pour concrete to make up the bridge deck.
We'll also be working as close to around-the-clock as can safely be done on the final retaining walls for the bridge landing. Once the retaining walls are in place and the bridge deck is poured (and the curing time for the concrete has passed), we'll build the barrier.
All this means we're looking to reopen the ramps from Loop 1604 to northbound I-35 shortly after Veterans Day. Weather permitting, at least.
As for the exit ramp to Forum Parkway? Our crews have devoted every available resource to the ramp and we should be able to finish up just in time. That's right - all roads will be open to The Forum.
Other work areas
Wet weather has slowed down the reconstruction of the southbound exit ramp to Forum Parkway and Olympia Parkway. Traffic is using the exit to FM 1518 and following the access road to reach appropriate destinations. Before the new exit ramp can be built, two small retaining walls need to be built. Right now, between the constant onslaught of rains (hitting every time the ground dries up enough to work) and a smaller available workforce than expected, we're hoping to have that southbound exit ready before Christmas.
Yes, that's a little later than initially anticipated. Again, all available resources are being dedicated to the northbound exit to Forum Parkway. The southbound side will be built as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, subcontractors are using nightly closures to work on the center barrier and the road lighting. Most of that work should be finishing up by the end of the year.
The overall project is on pace to finish up by the end of the school year.
This decision was made by the contractor, Dan Williams Construction. Right now the project's highest priority is getting the northbound exit to Forum Parkway finished so we can, in turn, reopen the ramps from Loop 1604 onto northbound I-35. This prioritization - and a bit of a shortage of laborers - has placed other tasks a little lower on the totem pole, so to speak.
Let's take all this one step at a time....
FM 3009 exit
First off, we're not closing the FM 3009 exit for at least a few weeks. And, with the current schedule putting us at a point to be ready for work until somewhere around Thanksgiving. But, since the businesses are dependent on the spending that happens through Turkey Day, that means we'll likely not be touching the ramp until after Thanksgiving.
Between now and then, we'll reconfigure the northbound frontage road approaching FM 3009 to allow more flow. First and foremost, that means traffic patterns will return to "normal" sometime early next week.
 |
| Though we won't have the northbound exit to FM 3009 under construction or rebuilt within the next few weeks (it will remain open until we're ready to rebuild the ramp), our crews will be restriping the road to open up the traffic flow at this intersection. |
In the meantime, we're working where we can on the turnaround bridge(s). Frankly, the crews on the project that do the kind of concrete work needed there are committed to the Forum Parkway exit, so the schedule to open that turnaround has been pushed back a bit.
 |
| In the late afternoon, the fact you're looking directly into the sun makes taking a photo tough to do. But from under the FM 3009 overpass bridge, drivers can see the work on these structures is nearly completed. Crews are focused on the northbound exit to Forum Parkway, but as they are available some crews will work on the finishing touches - the concrete barrier rails - on the turnaround bridges. |
The top priority on the project - head and shoulders above other activities - is getting the northbound exit to Forum Parkway open in time for the holiday shopping season. Really, that means Thanksgiving is the deadline we're working on (so we can be out of the way for Black Friday).
 |
| Work on the northbound exit to Forum Parkway continues. Crews are pushing to have all roads open to The Forum in time for Black Friday. |
We'll also be working as close to around-the-clock as can safely be done on the final retaining walls for the bridge landing. Once the retaining walls are in place and the bridge deck is poured (and the curing time for the concrete has passed), we'll build the barrier.
 |
| With the bridge support beams in place and deck panels being set, crews should be pouring concrete for the Forum Parkway exit ramp early next week. We're hoping to reopen to traffic the ramps from Loop 1604 to northbound I-35, which will drive under the support arch shown here, in upcoming weeks. |
As for the exit ramp to Forum Parkway? Our crews have devoted every available resource to the ramp and we should be able to finish up just in time. That's right - all roads will be open to The Forum.
Other work areas
Wet weather has slowed down the reconstruction of the southbound exit ramp to Forum Parkway and Olympia Parkway. Traffic is using the exit to FM 1518 and following the access road to reach appropriate destinations. Before the new exit ramp can be built, two small retaining walls need to be built. Right now, between the constant onslaught of rains (hitting every time the ground dries up enough to work) and a smaller available workforce than expected, we're hoping to have that southbound exit ready before Christmas.
Yes, that's a little later than initially anticipated. Again, all available resources are being dedicated to the northbound exit to Forum Parkway. The southbound side will be built as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, subcontractors are using nightly closures to work on the center barrier and the road lighting. Most of that work should be finishing up by the end of the year.
The overall project is on pace to finish up by the end of the school year.
Thursday, October 10
Weather delays (again), but progress on I-35
Work at Forum Parkway continues to progress, and project supervisors are confident we'll have traffic on the new northbound exit ramp to Forum Parkway in time for the busy holiday shopping season.
That work is known on the jobsite as "Milestone One". The other milestone - oddly enough, "Milestone Two" - involves the northbound exit ramp to FM 3009.
Those who keep up with the project are aware we actually wanted to have the new northbound exit ramp to FM 3009 opened by now. We had planned on closing it late September, with the aim at having work done and the ramp reopened in just three weeks.
Then it started raining. And after some sun, it rained some more. And then again and again. Now ... it's happening again.
In fact, six days in the last three weeks have brought rain. The San Antonio area has gotten nearly an inch of rainfall over that time - much needed, indeed! - and the area of FM 3009 has been too soggy to allow for dirt movers to do their work. Based on forecasts, we're anticipating just as much rainfall over the next week as we've seen over the last three. Typically, when we get a solid rain work is hindered for two or three days more - we have to wait for the ground to dry out.
So the target closing date is being moved again. Last week we announced we'd be shooting for 13 October. Message boards have reflected that goal all week.
The new target is October 20. But remember: weather could flush this back another week yet again.
In the meantime, we've asked the contractor to dedicate some time and effort to getting the remainder of the intersection of I-35 and FM 3009 - including the turnarounds moving northbound traffic to the southbound frontage road - finished up. We anticipated opening the intersection with the new ramp, but that's been a bust.
Now we're trying to get the intersection opened up a bit earlier. Crews have priorities on the project - the northbound ramp to Forum Parkway and southbound ramp to Olympia Parkway and Forum Parkway are the two highest priorities right now - but we're trying to do what we can to get out of the way at FM 3009.
We figure we've had a number of incredible neighbors for the last year-plus, and it's time we get neighborly as well.
So ... here's the bottom line:
That work is known on the jobsite as "Milestone One". The other milestone - oddly enough, "Milestone Two" - involves the northbound exit ramp to FM 3009.
Those who keep up with the project are aware we actually wanted to have the new northbound exit ramp to FM 3009 opened by now. We had planned on closing it late September, with the aim at having work done and the ramp reopened in just three weeks.
Then it started raining. And after some sun, it rained some more. And then again and again. Now ... it's happening again.
In fact, six days in the last three weeks have brought rain. The San Antonio area has gotten nearly an inch of rainfall over that time - much needed, indeed! - and the area of FM 3009 has been too soggy to allow for dirt movers to do their work. Based on forecasts, we're anticipating just as much rainfall over the next week as we've seen over the last three. Typically, when we get a solid rain work is hindered for two or three days more - we have to wait for the ground to dry out.
So the target closing date is being moved again. Last week we announced we'd be shooting for 13 October. Message boards have reflected that goal all week.
The new target is October 20. But remember: weather could flush this back another week yet again.
In the meantime, we've asked the contractor to dedicate some time and effort to getting the remainder of the intersection of I-35 and FM 3009 - including the turnarounds moving northbound traffic to the southbound frontage road - finished up. We anticipated opening the intersection with the new ramp, but that's been a bust.
Now we're trying to get the intersection opened up a bit earlier. Crews have priorities on the project - the northbound ramp to Forum Parkway and southbound ramp to Olympia Parkway and Forum Parkway are the two highest priorities right now - but we're trying to do what we can to get out of the way at FM 3009.
We figure we've had a number of incredible neighbors for the last year-plus, and it's time we get neighborly as well.
So ... here's the bottom line:
- We're on pace to have traffic on the northbound exit to Forum Parkway
- We're targeting October 20 to close the northbound ramp to FM 3009 to rebuild it
- We'll have the northbound ramp to FM 3009 opened three weeks after it's closed
- We're working to get the north-to-south turnaround at FM 3009 opened sooner than promised, if possible
Wednesday, September 25
The next closure on the I-35 Selma project
Sunday
night, September 29, crews working for the Texas Department of Transportation
will close the northbound I-35 exit to FM 3009 in Schertz for three weeks to
rebuild the exit ramps and finish work on the frontage road.
Traffic will use the Schertz Parkway exit and follow the frontage road to reach FM 3009. The closure is tied to a milestone allowing the contractor just three weeks to finish work while rewarding efforts to reopen the ramp early.
Crews are rebuilding the exit to better align with the new entrance ramp from FM 1518. An additional lane will be added to the exit. Work on the north-to-south turnaround should also be completed, opening the lanes of the northbound frontage road closed to accommodate the improvements at the busy intersection.
This closure represents the second major milestone on the project. The first major milestone is the construction of the braided exit ramp on northbound I-35 to Forum Parkway, serving the major shopping center of the metro area’s northeast side. In order to accomplish that work, earlier this month crews closed the ramp from Loop 1604 onto northbound I-35. That closure has been extended into November – initially crews planned to reopen the ramp mid-October – to expedite the completion of the Forum Parkway exit ramp.
Weather permitting, the Forum Parkway exit ramp should be done in time for the holiday shopping season.
Traffic will use the Schertz Parkway exit and follow the frontage road to reach FM 3009. The closure is tied to a milestone allowing the contractor just three weeks to finish work while rewarding efforts to reopen the ramp early.
Crews are rebuilding the exit to better align with the new entrance ramp from FM 1518. An additional lane will be added to the exit. Work on the north-to-south turnaround should also be completed, opening the lanes of the northbound frontage road closed to accommodate the improvements at the busy intersection.
This closure represents the second major milestone on the project. The first major milestone is the construction of the braided exit ramp on northbound I-35 to Forum Parkway, serving the major shopping center of the metro area’s northeast side. In order to accomplish that work, earlier this month crews closed the ramp from Loop 1604 onto northbound I-35. That closure has been extended into November – initially crews planned to reopen the ramp mid-October – to expedite the completion of the Forum Parkway exit ramp.
Weather permitting, the Forum Parkway exit ramp should be done in time for the holiday shopping season.
Monday, September 16
Moving along well; a quick look at the I-35 Selma job....
In a Thursday afternoon meeting about the closure of the Loop 1604 ramps to northbound I-35, representatives of The Forum shopping center and the city of Live Oak expressed some surprise the traffic wasn't backed up more than it was in the area.
Because of the ramp closure, traffic is being routed onto the frontage roads at Pat Booker Road. Before reaching the northbound main lanes of I-35, all traffic has to pass through the traffic signal at Forum Parkway. Everyone - including just about every TxDOT engineer involved with the project - thought traffic would stack up onto Loop 1604. We expected a bit of a traffic disaster.
However, even at peak traffic hours the total wait to get onto the Interstate is about fifteen minutes. And that's going the long way. During the day, when traffic is a little lighter, the detour takes between 8 and 10 minutes to get through.
Even with these phenomenal figures, we're actually going to try and improve the flow a little more. We're looking into a minor traffic pattern change on the westbound frontage road at Pat Booker Road, paring traffic down to one lane to allow drivers using the east-to-west turnaround a protected acceleration lane. We're evaluating timing of traffic signals, giving us a better flow of traffic. So much for talk of the traffic patterns out there.
Let's talk progress....
Within a few hours of setting up the closure last week, we had drill rigs in place digging foundation holes for our bridge support columns. Work on those columns has been moving quickly, and later this week we hope to have additional columns underway. Drivers should also start seeing retaining walls for the bridge structure start going up.
Everyone on the project is working toward the same goal: to have that north-bound exit to Forum Parkway reopened as soon as possible. We're working on a few out-of-the-box ideas to move faster than even our projected January target date; if any of those ideas are approved, we'll be sure to announce them.
Olympia Parkway
For now, the best way to get to The Forum and The Shops at The Forum from northbound I-35 is Olympia Parkway.
On the southbound side, the Olympia Parkway exit is closed - we're moving the exit further north, closer to the bridge. The idea behind that is to give traffic a little more time to move around on the frontage road, and we just built a new entrance ramp before Forum Parkway. Until the new ramp - which will have two lanes - is complete, traffic is using the Schertz Parkway exit.
We hope to have the Olympia Parkway exit finished in time for the holiday shopping season.
The next milestone....
The night of September 22 (a Sunday), crews will close the northbound exit ramp to FM 3009. The ramp is tied to a milestone that allows just three weeks for work; when crews reopen the ramp, it will have two lanes and the north-to-south turnaround will be ready for use. The entrance ramp from FM 1518 will also be opened.
That is, if the weather (and the equipment) cooperates.
That will mean that, by mid-October, all the northbound frontage road lanes currently closed will reopen. Until that point, all northbound traffic to FM 3009 will use the Schertz Parkway exit.
Because of the ramp closure, traffic is being routed onto the frontage roads at Pat Booker Road. Before reaching the northbound main lanes of I-35, all traffic has to pass through the traffic signal at Forum Parkway. Everyone - including just about every TxDOT engineer involved with the project - thought traffic would stack up onto Loop 1604. We expected a bit of a traffic disaster.
However, even at peak traffic hours the total wait to get onto the Interstate is about fifteen minutes. And that's going the long way. During the day, when traffic is a little lighter, the detour takes between 8 and 10 minutes to get through.
Even with these phenomenal figures, we're actually going to try and improve the flow a little more. We're looking into a minor traffic pattern change on the westbound frontage road at Pat Booker Road, paring traffic down to one lane to allow drivers using the east-to-west turnaround a protected acceleration lane. We're evaluating timing of traffic signals, giving us a better flow of traffic. So much for talk of the traffic patterns out there.
Let's talk progress....
Within a few hours of setting up the closure last week, we had drill rigs in place digging foundation holes for our bridge support columns. Work on those columns has been moving quickly, and later this week we hope to have additional columns underway. Drivers should also start seeing retaining walls for the bridge structure start going up.
Everyone on the project is working toward the same goal: to have that north-bound exit to Forum Parkway reopened as soon as possible. We're working on a few out-of-the-box ideas to move faster than even our projected January target date; if any of those ideas are approved, we'll be sure to announce them.
Olympia Parkway
For now, the best way to get to The Forum and The Shops at The Forum from northbound I-35 is Olympia Parkway.
On the southbound side, the Olympia Parkway exit is closed - we're moving the exit further north, closer to the bridge. The idea behind that is to give traffic a little more time to move around on the frontage road, and we just built a new entrance ramp before Forum Parkway. Until the new ramp - which will have two lanes - is complete, traffic is using the Schertz Parkway exit.
We hope to have the Olympia Parkway exit finished in time for the holiday shopping season.
The next milestone....
The night of September 22 (a Sunday), crews will close the northbound exit ramp to FM 3009. The ramp is tied to a milestone that allows just three weeks for work; when crews reopen the ramp, it will have two lanes and the north-to-south turnaround will be ready for use. The entrance ramp from FM 1518 will also be opened.
That is, if the weather (and the equipment) cooperates.
That will mean that, by mid-October, all the northbound frontage road lanes currently closed will reopen. Until that point, all northbound traffic to FM 3009 will use the Schertz Parkway exit.
Friday, February 15
The I-35 Selma project....
Since the north-bound exit to Forum Parkway on I-35 closed a couple weeks ago, I've fielded a variety of calls and emails regarding the posted detour route.
Most of the questions question the efficiency of our route through Olympia Parkway. Rather than continue to offer the same response over and over and over, I'll let everyone know the reasons behind our current detour routes.
The biggest concern expressed is the frustration over needing to take the Olympia Parkway exit, then drive all the way to Olympia Parkway and wait at the traffic signal before continuing into The Forum shopping center. Instead, I've heard several suggest taking Agora Parkway immediately after exiting at Olympia Parkway.
DO NOT DO THIS.
Remember our top priority at TxDOT is safety. Moving from the main lanes of I-35 (where traffic is moving at 70 miles per hour) onto a frontage road (45 miles per hour), then moving over two full lanes of roadway while slowing down to a safe turning speed in less than a tenth of a mile is simply dangerous. Maneuvers like this are likely to contribute to collisions, and we're trying to avoid that. Instead, shoot for Olympia Parkway. That offers you enough room to comfortably slow and turn off the frontage road.
Besides, our detour isn't intended to get you (specifically) to The Forum anyway. Our intent is getting folks to Forum Parkway - letting traffic out directly where the closure ends.
But if you are using north-bound I-35 to reach The Forum, our recommendation is to actually use the Pat Booker Road exit. Pat Booker Road intersects with Loop 1604, where you can take the west-bound access road into The Forum. Having driven them both, this detour seems to be the more efficient option for shoppers heading to The Forum.
Enough on that. Let's talk construction....
As I just said, we've now had the north-bound exit ramp to Forum Parkway shut down for more than two weeks. We've gotten our barriers set up and have started some excavation since that happened, and over the next few weeks we'll be focusing on constructing some storm drain structures and continuing to excavate the work area.
On the other end - at FM 3009 - we're installing storm sewer drain pipes and preparing to work on the bridge support columns and caps. Hopefully we'll get after the columns and caps sometime in the next week or two.
As for the work between FM 1518 and Schertz Parkway ... we're progressing. We're still targeting the spring to have those entrance and exit ramps re-opened.
That's it - that's what's going on. If you have any questions regarding the project, comment below!
Most of the questions question the efficiency of our route through Olympia Parkway. Rather than continue to offer the same response over and over and over, I'll let everyone know the reasons behind our current detour routes.
The biggest concern expressed is the frustration over needing to take the Olympia Parkway exit, then drive all the way to Olympia Parkway and wait at the traffic signal before continuing into The Forum shopping center. Instead, I've heard several suggest taking Agora Parkway immediately after exiting at Olympia Parkway.
DO NOT DO THIS.
Remember our top priority at TxDOT is safety. Moving from the main lanes of I-35 (where traffic is moving at 70 miles per hour) onto a frontage road (45 miles per hour), then moving over two full lanes of roadway while slowing down to a safe turning speed in less than a tenth of a mile is simply dangerous. Maneuvers like this are likely to contribute to collisions, and we're trying to avoid that. Instead, shoot for Olympia Parkway. That offers you enough room to comfortably slow and turn off the frontage road.
Besides, our detour isn't intended to get you (specifically) to The Forum anyway. Our intent is getting folks to Forum Parkway - letting traffic out directly where the closure ends.
But if you are using north-bound I-35 to reach The Forum, our recommendation is to actually use the Pat Booker Road exit. Pat Booker Road intersects with Loop 1604, where you can take the west-bound access road into The Forum. Having driven them both, this detour seems to be the more efficient option for shoppers heading to The Forum.
Enough on that. Let's talk construction....
As I just said, we've now had the north-bound exit ramp to Forum Parkway shut down for more than two weeks. We've gotten our barriers set up and have started some excavation since that happened, and over the next few weeks we'll be focusing on constructing some storm drain structures and continuing to excavate the work area.
On the other end - at FM 3009 - we're installing storm sewer drain pipes and preparing to work on the bridge support columns and caps. Hopefully we'll get after the columns and caps sometime in the next week or two.
As for the work between FM 1518 and Schertz Parkway ... we're progressing. We're still targeting the spring to have those entrance and exit ramps re-opened.
That's it - that's what's going on. If you have any questions regarding the project, comment below!
Thursday, January 31
I-35 in full swing
According to the Texas Transportation Institute, it's the busiest segment of state-maintained highway in the San Antonio area.
That's why we're hard at work to provide some solutions. Those who are part of the 180,000-plus drivers who drive this area each day have watched as the project has progressed. Many of those have sent emails or made phone calls to ask about the project's progress. With that in mind, here's what's happening out there as of this week:
Just two things to point out, by way of emphasis: First, the Forum Parkway exit ramp is a milestone, and the work there is being timed. Road crews have about six months to get it done - which is part of why the ramp is a priority for job bosses. Second, this project is due to be substantially completed (meaning all features carrying traffic will be open for use) by Christmas 2013. In the grand scheme of things, this means the project is pretty darned fast.
For more information on the project, you check out the TxDOT-maintained project page.
That's why we're hard at work to provide some solutions. Those who are part of the 180,000-plus drivers who drive this area each day have watched as the project has progressed. Many of those have sent emails or made phone calls to ask about the project's progress. With that in mind, here's what's happening out there as of this week:
- Work on the north-bound I-35 exit to Forum Parkway has begun. For the first week or so, most of the work will involve preparing the work space and getting everything set up so the crews can safely work each day. Within the next three weeks you should start seeing machines out there to break apart old infrastructure that's being modified or rebuilt to fit the new braided ramp.
- The adjustments of the exit and entrance ramps between FM 1518 and Schertz Parkway will continue. This has been half of the focus for road-building crews to this point, and will remain a priority. Job bosses hope to have the ramps re-opened by early spring, freeing up resources being used on these ramps in time to hit the Forum Parkway exit ramp in time for the most intensive work to be done there.
- Construction of turnaround bridges at FM 3009 is about 30 percent complete. Bridge crews are almost finished building the abutments, or shelves intended to hold the ends of the support beams that will bridge the interstate. Work on support columns in the median is set to begin in earnest moving forward.
Just two things to point out, by way of emphasis: First, the Forum Parkway exit ramp is a milestone, and the work there is being timed. Road crews have about six months to get it done - which is part of why the ramp is a priority for job bosses. Second, this project is due to be substantially completed (meaning all features carrying traffic will be open for use) by Christmas 2013. In the grand scheme of things, this means the project is pretty darned fast.
For more information on the project, you check out the TxDOT-maintained project page.
Monday, January 28
REMINDER: Forum Parkway exit closing Tuesday night
In case you've forgotten, the north-bound I-35 exit to Forum Parkway (just a stone's throw north of Loop 1604 at northeast San Antonio) will close for six months beginning Tuesday night. Check out the earlier post for more details on what we're doing.
To give you a look at the detour route(s) available, check out these two videos:
This one shows the actual closure, and looks at the detour using Olympia Parkway....
This one goes through the Pat Booker Road detour - the preferred route for those headed to The Forum to do their shopping or to work....
That's it! If you have any questions, let us know!
To give you a look at the detour route(s) available, check out these two videos:
This one shows the actual closure, and looks at the detour using Olympia Parkway....
This one goes through the Pat Booker Road detour - the preferred route for those headed to The Forum to do their shopping or to work....
That's it! If you have any questions, let us know!
Thursday, January 24
North-bound Forum Parkway exit to close for six months
SAN ANTONIO — The north-bound exit from Interstate 35 to Forum Parkway in the Live Oak-Selma area will close Tuesday night for six months while road builders contracted by the Texas Department of Transportation build a new braided-style ramp in its place.
This closure was previously announced for Sunday night. Road-building crews have pushed the closure back to allow extra time to lay out the work area and make sure they have enough space to work within.
A braided-style ramp runs traffic from one direction over traffic from another, separating competing streams of traffic. In this case, traffic to Forum Parkway will be bridged over traffic entering north-bound I-35 from Loop 1604. The design is intended to maintain safety on an increasingly utilized ramp system while addressing congestion.
“The end result will benefit drivers in the area and the businesses they are trying to reach,” said TxDOT spokesman Josh Donat. “When we’re finished we’ll have a safer, more reliable route for traffic heading in both directions – to Forum Parkway as well as to I-35. In the meantime, drivers should be aware of the ramp closure and look for alternate routes.”
Traffic headed to Forum Parkway may use the Olympia Parkway exit, cross over I-35 and approach Forum Parkway from the south as a detour. Another viable route involves exiting I-35 at Pat Booker and taking the turnaround under Loop 1604. More than a half-dozen entry points to The Forum line the west-bound frontage road of Loop 1604.
“We’ve worked closely with the property managers at The Forum,” Donat said. “We all feel the Pat Booker route is the preferred detour.”
Traffic accessing Forum Parkway from south-bound I-35 will not be affected. Traffic entering north-bound I-35 from Loop 1604 will not be affected, either.
The work is part of a year-long effort to address congestion and maintain the safety of one of the busiest highway corridors in the San Antonio metropolitan area. Crews are currently working on reconfigurations of exit and entrance ramps between Shertz Parkway and Farm to Market 1518. For more information on the project, visit www.txdot.gov and search keyword “I-35 Selma”.
For more information, contact TxDOT Public Information Officer Josh Donat at josh.donat@txdot.gov or (210) 615-5932.
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