We're hitting a point in the year where many of our projects are preparing for major traffic switches, and it's important everybody be on the same page, er, in the same lane. So ... here's a look at what to expect over the next month or so:
I-10 Huebner
Perhaps the most major traffic shift upcoming is on I-10 near DeZavala Road. Webber Construction is planning to shift all lanes over onto the current westbound side of the DeZavala overpass bridge in June. This will mean going from three lanes each way plus the auxiliary lane to just three lanes each way. That means traffic entering the highway will do so directly into an active lane; entering and exiting traffic won't have its own lane. The six lanes that will remain active will be narrower than what's out there now - about 11 feet wide each.
This shift will last for about a year, though at the six-month mark the six active lanes will be scooted over onto a new bridge structure making up the future eastbound lanes.
Fred-Med
Next week Texas Sterling Construction will begin phase two of their work, requiring a major traffic shift. This shift won't really impact daily commuters a whole lot in terms of drive time, and we're not reducing traffic lanes beyond what's already reduced on Medical Drive. The lane positions will change, though, and traffic will begin driving on the future westbound approaches to Fredericksburg Road.
I-35 SAMMC
Though not major, cutting out turnarounds is a pretty significant change in traffic patterns at some locations. This week Lane Construction dropped the north-to-south turnaround of I-35 at Rittiman Road, and they'll follow up by taking the south-to-north turnaround in about three weeks. These turnarounds will be closed at least three months.
Wurzbach Parkway
While we don't have a traffic shift planned immediately on the parkway itself, we do have one coming soon related to work on the parkway. The good news is this shift will open up traffic a bit, reflecting a near-complete product.
On Jones-Maltsberger, Texas Sterling Construction is preparing to open up traffic to four lanes - two lanes each way - at the Wurzbach Parkway overpass. We've had J-M limited to a single lane each way for about two years now, a necessary traffic change designed to help crews build the new intersection with the parkway.
Oh, yeah ... this is scheduled to happen next week, if all goes well.
Loop 1604
Leslie Road - a north-south parallel road running between Shaenfield and Culebra roads - will be converted to a one-way frontage road beginning May 19. This change will be permanent. (Leslie Road actually extends north all the way to New Guilbeau, but only the segment between Shaenfield and Culebra will be converted ... for now....)
Williams Brothers Construction is building the northbound frontage road on undeveloped land right now; the development of these frontage roads are the first major steps in the extension of the Loop 1604 expressway (that means we're building overpasses) between Bandera and Culebra roads.
FM 306
Before the end of the month, Hunter Industries is hoping to have new overpasses ready for use, allowing traffic to permanently bypass the Union Pacific Railroad crossings on the north end of New Braunfels. These bridges will only feature one lane in each direction (both structures are intended to be the future westbound bridges; the eastbound bridges will be built once traffic is moved out of the way), but should provide immediate relief for traffic in the area.
Additionally, Hunter is working to open up FM 306 to a four-lane roadway between I-35 and Goodwin Road. This will help those accessing the local businesses quite a bit, and we're excited to be so far along on this project already!
Seguin Ave (New Braunfels)
In June, Austin Bridge and Road is hoping to have the remaining lanes of Seguin Avenue under the new UPRR crossing complete and ready for use. This will allow crews to open the road to four lanes (two lanes each way), offering relief to a pinch point that squeezes everyone into a single lane each way. This should help those headed to New Braunfels for summertime activities reach their destination unencumbered.
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Showing posts with label Jones-Maltsberger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jones-Maltsberger. Show all posts
Thursday, May 8
Tuesday, February 4
Wurzbach Parkway - progress continues
Blanco Road to West Avenue
Electricians are working to solve a blockage problem that will allow for the lighting issues near Blanco Road to be handled. The conduit carrying the power supply lines to each light is blocked in a spot, preventing the wiring from being delivered to the lights.
Meanwhile the prime contractor is working with TxDOT personnel well above the project level to determing the oucome of the Blanco Road overpass. While not yet resolved, the folks at the project level are working well with TxDOT supervisors to get the remaining work finished quickly.
Traffic has been using the western third of rhe parkway since Christmastime, though the Blanco Road overpass has remained closed while project supervisors come to agreements on how to treat the bridge surface (there are some ride-quality issues with slight dips on the surface; nothing structurally adverse, but could make for a bumpy ride) and a clear direction regarding the "punch list" and some of the finishing items on that list. The bottom line: expect to see the workers on the western segment for the upcoming weeks. They'll be patching cracks and repainging walls and adjusting signs as they can, doing what they can do to make the new Parkway as beautiful as it can be.
Earlier we talked about opening the overpass once the overhead highway signs were put into place. Well, those overhead signs were successfully installed late last week, but we've still not opened that up. Everything boils down to the ongoing discussion regarding the bridge deck surface and getting the proper paperwork from Liberty Mutual. We hope to have that ironed out quickly. To those worried about that overpass: getting this open is one of the biggest priorities those involved with this project have. There's not a day or a week that passes without talking about how to get it done.
West Avenue to Jones-Maltsberger
The northbound exit to Bitters Road will close overnight Monday and Tuesday while crews set barrier; various lanes on the frontage roads will be closed Saturday while crews restripe roadway.
All this should allow us to open up a temporary entrance ramp from Nakoma Drive - the hope is to have that opened up Saturday, but it may not happen until Monday night. For the daily drivers, there won't be a whole lot of difference; the temporary ramp is set just south of the existing ramp, merging onto the main lanes pretty close to the current merge location.
When the temporary ramp is opened up bridge crews will begin working on the braided exit-entrance ramp in that location. The finished product will have the Bitters Road exit ramp bridging over the entrance ramp serving traffic from Wurzbach Parkway and Nakoma Drive.
Meanwhile, crews are working hard to have the new Wurzbach Parkway exit ramp built and in use late spring. The new ramp is really a reconstruction of the existing Bitters Road exit, moved back enough to allow traffic space to move over and reach the parkway.
Clear as mud? Let's sum up (remember ... this is all on the north-bound side):
That is currently scheduled to happen in 2015.
Jones-Maltsberger to Wetmore
The biggest news is the paving on Jones-Maltsberger, initially set to be laid two weeks ago, will need to continue waiting out the weather. Cold temperatures this week have once again set work back a week. Supervisors with Texas Sterling are looking hard for the break in the cold or wet weather to lay the asphalt down.
Meanwhile, bridge crews are pushing forward with the Mud Creek bridge, which has become a focus and a priority for all involved with the project. The sooner the Mud Creek bridge is finished, the sooner we can build the final few feet of the city's Salado Creek Trail and users can begin crossing the parkway without using a surface-level crosswalk. Right now we're still hoping to have the Mud Creek bridge finished this spring. That should allow us to get rid of the temporary traffic signals put in place to protect the crosswalk near the entrace to McAllister Park.
Electricians are working to solve a blockage problem that will allow for the lighting issues near Blanco Road to be handled. The conduit carrying the power supply lines to each light is blocked in a spot, preventing the wiring from being delivered to the lights.
Meanwhile the prime contractor is working with TxDOT personnel well above the project level to determing the oucome of the Blanco Road overpass. While not yet resolved, the folks at the project level are working well with TxDOT supervisors to get the remaining work finished quickly.
Traffic has been using the western third of rhe parkway since Christmastime, though the Blanco Road overpass has remained closed while project supervisors come to agreements on how to treat the bridge surface (there are some ride-quality issues with slight dips on the surface; nothing structurally adverse, but could make for a bumpy ride) and a clear direction regarding the "punch list" and some of the finishing items on that list. The bottom line: expect to see the workers on the western segment for the upcoming weeks. They'll be patching cracks and repainging walls and adjusting signs as they can, doing what they can do to make the new Parkway as beautiful as it can be.
Earlier we talked about opening the overpass once the overhead highway signs were put into place. Well, those overhead signs were successfully installed late last week, but we've still not opened that up. Everything boils down to the ongoing discussion regarding the bridge deck surface and getting the proper paperwork from Liberty Mutual. We hope to have that ironed out quickly. To those worried about that overpass: getting this open is one of the biggest priorities those involved with this project have. There's not a day or a week that passes without talking about how to get it done.
West Avenue to Jones-Maltsberger
The northbound exit to Bitters Road will close overnight Monday and Tuesday while crews set barrier; various lanes on the frontage roads will be closed Saturday while crews restripe roadway.
All this should allow us to open up a temporary entrance ramp from Nakoma Drive - the hope is to have that opened up Saturday, but it may not happen until Monday night. For the daily drivers, there won't be a whole lot of difference; the temporary ramp is set just south of the existing ramp, merging onto the main lanes pretty close to the current merge location.
When the temporary ramp is opened up bridge crews will begin working on the braided exit-entrance ramp in that location. The finished product will have the Bitters Road exit ramp bridging over the entrance ramp serving traffic from Wurzbach Parkway and Nakoma Drive.
Meanwhile, crews are working hard to have the new Wurzbach Parkway exit ramp built and in use late spring. The new ramp is really a reconstruction of the existing Bitters Road exit, moved back enough to allow traffic space to move over and reach the parkway.
Clear as mud? Let's sum up (remember ... this is all on the north-bound side):
- A temporary entrance ramp from Nakoma Drive will open by Monday night
- Construction on the future Bitters Road exit, which bridges over the future entrance ramp from Nakoma Drive (located pretty near the existing ramp), will begin
- The future Wurzbach Parkway exit, located near the existing Bitters Road exit, should be open late spring
That is currently scheduled to happen in 2015.
Jones-Maltsberger to Wetmore
The biggest news is the paving on Jones-Maltsberger, initially set to be laid two weeks ago, will need to continue waiting out the weather. Cold temperatures this week have once again set work back a week. Supervisors with Texas Sterling are looking hard for the break in the cold or wet weather to lay the asphalt down.
Meanwhile, bridge crews are pushing forward with the Mud Creek bridge, which has become a focus and a priority for all involved with the project. The sooner the Mud Creek bridge is finished, the sooner we can build the final few feet of the city's Salado Creek Trail and users can begin crossing the parkway without using a surface-level crosswalk. Right now we're still hoping to have the Mud Creek bridge finished this spring. That should allow us to get rid of the temporary traffic signals put in place to protect the crosswalk near the entrace to McAllister Park.
Wednesday, December 18
TxDOT lead inspector recognized
Lloyd Mair, the lead inspector for the center segment of
Wurzbach Parkway and a 28-year veteran at the Texas Department of
Transportation, was recognized this week by his peers for an award given by the
Association of General Contractors earlier this year.
The AGC had announced the award in October and recognized Mair at a conference in Austin. Mair wasn’t at that conference, saying his priority was concentrating on the active construction in San Antonio. TxDOT leaders with the Bexar Metro Area office and the district construction office plotted the recognition, knowing Mair wouldn’t go out of his way for accolades.
"This shouldn’t go to an individual,” Mair told those gathered at the weekly progress meeting on Wurzbach Parkway Tuesday. “This was a team effort.”
Those involved with the project, who worked with or around Mair, gathered at the weekly meeting to surprise him with a plaque and some handshakes. The award was presented by TxDOT Director of Construction Gina Gallegos.
“I’ve heard a number of nicknames for Lloyd,” Gallegos said during the presentation. “Now I’m hearing him called ‘Gold Star’. I just heard that this morning – it’s fitting!”
The recognition came for his work on the expansion of Spur 421 – Bandera and Culebra Road, inside I-410 in town – between 2008 and 2011. Williams Brothers Construction was the contractor on that project. Mair is inspecting Williams Brothers’ work on the parkway now. The project superintendent with Williams Brothers was also recognized for his part in the project.
For more information on the Wurzbach Parkway project Mair is currently inspecting, check out the project's regular newsletter here.
The AGC had announced the award in October and recognized Mair at a conference in Austin. Mair wasn’t at that conference, saying his priority was concentrating on the active construction in San Antonio. TxDOT leaders with the Bexar Metro Area office and the district construction office plotted the recognition, knowing Mair wouldn’t go out of his way for accolades.
"This shouldn’t go to an individual,” Mair told those gathered at the weekly progress meeting on Wurzbach Parkway Tuesday. “This was a team effort.”
Those involved with the project, who worked with or around Mair, gathered at the weekly meeting to surprise him with a plaque and some handshakes. The award was presented by TxDOT Director of Construction Gina Gallegos.
“I’ve heard a number of nicknames for Lloyd,” Gallegos said during the presentation. “Now I’m hearing him called ‘Gold Star’. I just heard that this morning – it’s fitting!”
The recognition came for his work on the expansion of Spur 421 – Bandera and Culebra Road, inside I-410 in town – between 2008 and 2011. Williams Brothers Construction was the contractor on that project. Mair is inspecting Williams Brothers’ work on the parkway now. The project superintendent with Williams Brothers was also recognized for his part in the project.
For more information on the Wurzbach Parkway project Mair is currently inspecting, check out the project's regular newsletter here.
Thursday, December 12
Temperatures cooling work (and other Wurzbach Parkway stuff)
Near-freezing temperatures are delaying pavement scheduled
for Jones-Maltsberger and for the western segment of the parkway, causing
project managers to find creative solutions to getting work done while waiting
on critical asphalt work.
TxDOT specifications require temperatures above 60 degrees to lay asphalt. That temperature is not a problem for most of the year in this part of Texas, but with the winter norther blowing through the area work across the area is slowing.
Millers will be moving across the western portion of the parkway this week, preparing the road for a final surface of asphalt. Paving crews are tentatively scheduled to move in next week – Monday – if temperatures have risen enough to get the work done.
On Jones-Maltsberger, the subgrade and base is built; project managers are waiting for paving crews to come through to finish the future southbound lanes of the city street so traffic can be moved to its next phase. That shift – the final shift before traffic is put into its final configuration – will divide northbound and southbound traffic, allowing for a work area between the two directions of traffic.
Temperatures are also impacting the ability to pour concrete, which requires temperatures at least in the 40s before concrete can be poured. Most of the work being held up by inability to pour concrete is on the east side of the project, including the concrete paving blocks near the brush site operated by the city of San Antonio on Old Bitters Road.
For more on the Wurzbach Parkway project, see the latest newsletter here.
TxDOT specifications require temperatures above 60 degrees to lay asphalt. That temperature is not a problem for most of the year in this part of Texas, but with the winter norther blowing through the area work across the area is slowing.
Millers will be moving across the western portion of the parkway this week, preparing the road for a final surface of asphalt. Paving crews are tentatively scheduled to move in next week – Monday – if temperatures have risen enough to get the work done.
On Jones-Maltsberger, the subgrade and base is built; project managers are waiting for paving crews to come through to finish the future southbound lanes of the city street so traffic can be moved to its next phase. That shift – the final shift before traffic is put into its final configuration – will divide northbound and southbound traffic, allowing for a work area between the two directions of traffic.
Temperatures are also impacting the ability to pour concrete, which requires temperatures at least in the 40s before concrete can be poured. Most of the work being held up by inability to pour concrete is on the east side of the project, including the concrete paving blocks near the brush site operated by the city of San Antonio on Old Bitters Road.
For more on the Wurzbach Parkway project, see the latest newsletter here.
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