Upcoming changes on I-10

As promised (though admittedly a day late), here's a look at the planned changes along I-10 in the UTSA Blvd/DeZavala Rd area. Since it's said a picture is worth a thousand words, we'll leave this post to the picture.

Orange areas indicate weekend-long closures for this weekend and next.

Red areas indicate long-term closures.

Green areas indicate ramps that will reopen for use.

I-35 SAMMC project advancing to next phase

Crews with Lane Construction have been working on the I-35 expansion (and relocation of the southbound exit to southbound I-410) for about a year, and over the next month folks will see a huge number of major changes. Each of these changes mean closures.

Here's a run-down of what we'll see happen, chronologically:

October 18
We'll have a full closure of the northbound main lanes between Binz-Engleman and Rittiman Road while crews pour concrete to form the bridge deck for the new southbound ramp to southbound I-410. That ramp bridges over the northbound main lanes, and when we pour concrete we like to close the lanes underneath. The idea is to keep any debris or wayward concrete from hitting cars below....

At any rate, if this is your typical route, you'll want to find another way to go. Traffic on I-35 will take exit 163, then follow the frontage around to southbound I-410, then turn around at Binz-Engleman, then reenter the road north of Rittiman Road.

This will mark a major step closer to having the new connecting ramp - which will have a right-hand exit, keeping truck traffic from sweeping several lanes to reach the current left-hand exit - ready to open. That ramp is scheduled to open late 2015 at the earliest.

October 19-24
This is a residual of the October 18 bridge deck pour. Expect overnight closures of the right lane of northbound I-35 - again, between Binz-Engleman and Rittiman Road - while crews finish off that concrete pour.

October 24-27
This is the scheduled start - and end - of a milestone that will require crews to shut down the ramp connecting eastbound I-410 to Crestway (in the Windcrest area). The exit ramp will be open and traffic will be able to connect to Starlight Terrace, but those trying to connect directly to Crestway will need to take another way. That other way is likely to be Starlight Terrace to Early Way Drive, then a left onto Sherri Ann Road, then a right onto Randolph Boulevard,

Whew.

Here's an easier way: Wiedner Road to Randolph Boulevard.

The closure will allow Lane to rebuild the ramp. The work is straightforward, but can't be done without shutting the ramp down entirely. Work will begin late Friday night and Lane will have the ramp reopened before Monday's morning commute.

October 31/November 1-November 3
This is another weekend-long closure, this time at Rittiman Road. We'll have Rittiman completely closed at I-35 while Lane works on the Rittiman Road overpass. Traffic through the weekend will turn right onto the frontage road, then turn around at the next turnaround to reach its destination.

This will be tricky for folks on eastbound Rittiman; they'll need to follow the northbound I-35 frontage road into the southbound I-410 frontage road, turn around at Binz-Engleman, then continue up the northbound I-410 frontage road to Rittiman Road.

The work at Rittiman should be a big deal; some issues with the plan sheets have postponed the work a bit, and our contractor has been rally raring to go there. We're widening the bridge a bit to make room for the new exit ramp we talked about above.

You'll notice this work is planned for "October 31/November 1". We're discussing the issue with project bosses ... but we do want to be sure to avoid any traffic associated with Halloween.

Overall schedule
For those wondering, our overall schedule shows we're right on pace to be finished on time. The overall completion date on this project is late 2016.

Loop 1604 expansion - update

Tonight our planning folks will host an ope house at Briscoe Middle School to discuss the expansion of Loop 1604 between Culebra and Potranco roads. The information for that meeting is:

Wednesday, Oct. 8

5 p.m. until 7 p.m. (presentation at 6 p.m.)

Dolph Briscoe Middle School

4265 Lone Star Parkway, SA, 78253

Part of the discussion at that meeting will include a discussion on the Loop 1604-Hwy 151 intersection, which received environmental clearance to proceed late last month. That intersection is an option to be added to the expansion currently underway between Bandera and Culebra roads, and we fully expect Williams Brothers Construction to exercise that option. Some details in brief:

-Cost of the option (that's the intersection only) is $44 million, which includes the design cost

-The plan calls for Hwy 151 to go over Loop 1604, running into Alamo Ranch Parkway

-The contract for the option still hasn't been signed, but the process to get that done is underway

-Construction is anticipated to begin sometime in 2015

-The intersection will be complete and ready for use by the end of 2017

-A new environmental plan is in place to prevent delays to this project

Meanwhile, the other work Williams Brothers is taking care of is moving forward. Daily drivers can easily see the northbound frontage road taking shape between Culebra Road and New Guilbeau. On the southbound side, crews are building the drain system that will run under the frontage road between Shaenfield and Culebra roads. While work continues to progress on these frontage roads, some utilities conflicts (particularly with SAWS water and sewer lines) may hold up work a bit and keep traffic from being able to use the new lanes until late 2015.

The frontage roads are key to being able to build the overpasses; Williams Brothers is building the frontage roads first, then moving over to the overpasses. All Loop 1604 traffic will use the frontage roads while the work on the main lanes and overpasses moves forward - all that will happen in 2016, most likely.

Meanwhile, dirt crews continue to build up the area that will make up the overpass at Braun Road. Keep in mind that overpass will not be available to use until 2016. In fact, no major changes in the way traffic moves through the area are planned for the next several months.

Folks in the area may notice some development inside the loop at Shaenfield ... that development seems to carry the road further east. That work is unrelated to ours, and doesn't involve our contractor. A private developer is working in the area (taking advantage of the upcoming development, no doubt). We do not have details, we simply know a private developer is doing the work.

As it stands, total project completion is still aimed at 2017.

I-10 ... closures on TWO projects in ONE weekend

Over the next two weekends, we've got a slew of closures planned for I-10 on the northwest side. Drivers in the area should take note and mark their schedules. This post will organize things chronologically, but be aware a few different locations are involved here:

October 10-11, I-10 at DeZavala Road

Before next weekend's closures can happen, Webber will move traffic on the main lanes over DeZavala Road onto the new bridge structure. Again, this bridge had a six-month milestone attached to it, and Webber has completed the work in four months.

To do this, crews will have main lanes down to a single lane each way, one side of the highway at a time, and move traffic around. Here's the schedule:

Friday night, 9 o'clock, two lanes of eastbound (inbound) I-10 will close. Webber will have all main lanes closed around midnight allowing them to quickly stripe the eastbound lanes and move barriers. They plan to have traffic open to three lanes going eastbound Saturday morning.

Saturday night, 9 o'clock, two lanes of westbound (outbound) I-10 will close. Again, we'll have all main lanes closed by midnight while Webber stripes the new lanes and moves barrier. They plan to have all three lanes reopened by Sunday morning.

The switch won't really mean much difference for the daily commuters; they'll have the same number of lanes and the same sticking points with entrance ramps and exit ramps will exist (more or less - more in a moment). Drivers should simply be aware those lanes will follow a different path, so "autopilot" drivers will need to wake up and pay added attention to their path. Put away your dang cell phones when you drive, and you'll be just fine.

Entrance and exit ramp changes

Along with the October 10-11 switch will come some significant changes to some entrance and exit ramps. We'll take a look at chages on the westbound side, then look at the eastbound side. Remember: these changes will take full effect October 11.

WB exit to DeZavala/Woodstone: no changes.

WB entrance from Huebner: no major changes; be aware the ramp may be a little longer as needed to accommodate the new path of roadway lanes going over DeZavala Road.

WB exit to UTSA Blvd: CLOSED. This ramp will remain closed for about six months. Traffic can either exit DeZavala/Woodstone and follow the frontage road or may exit at Lp 1604 ("Frontage Road") and turn around at the intersection and approach on eastbound I-10.

WB entrance from UTSA Blvd: no changes.

EB exit to UTSA Blvd: no changes; expect heavier volumes of traffic, however, as those blocked from using the eastbound exit will now be using this exit....

EB exit to DeZavala Road: OPEN. This ramp has been closed while crews rebuild it; it will open for regular use.

EB entrance from UTSA Blvd: no major changes. Note the currently used ramp is a temporary ramp; the permanent ramp will not open until work on the DeZavala overpass is finished.

EB exit to Fredericksburg Road: move to the permanent exit; the temporary ramp that's been used the last four months will be demolished.

That should just about cover it. Clear as mud? Check back tomorrow (Wednesday) and we'll have some graphics to show what will be open and what will be closed....

October 17-19, DeZavala Road

Webber Construction will close all lanes of DeZavala Road at I-10, forcing through traffic to turn right onto the frontage roads and head north or south, then turn around at UTSA Boulevard or at Fredericksburg Road, respectively, to reach its destination. This route has been used a handful of times before and local drivers should be familiar with the route. As always, we recommend folks look for alternate routes where possible to avoid the intersection altogether.

Webber's project managers have also requested alternating lane closures on the main lanes of I-10 over DeZavala for this work, though they say they may not need to actually close any lanes. Since traffic will be moved over onto the eastbound lanes October 10-11 it should be out of the way of the work.

October 18-19, I-10 at Ralph Fair Road, RFR itself

Sundt Construction will close all lanes of I-10 at Ralph Fair Road early October 18, a Saturday, to pour concrete. That work will begin at 4 a.m. and project bosses say they'll have lanes reopened by 7 p.m. that night.

Sundt will also close Ralph Fair Road (FM 3351) between Old Fredericksburg Road and I-10.

This set of closures exactly mimicks the closures implemented to set beams September 20-21. That closure was scheduled for two full days and crews had the highway reopened in less than 12 hours. The October closure is scheduled to be in place about 15 hours, and crews anticipate the full time will be needed.

Let's review the detours:

- Main lanes of I-10 will exit Ralph Fair Road, follow the frontage roads through the RFR intersection, and reenter the highway immediately after. Officers will be used to maximize traffic flow.

- Traffic on Ralph Fair Road coming from Camp Stanley will use Old Fredericksburg Road, turning north or south as they wish, to reach its destination.

Drivers should expect long delays and seek alternate routes, if possible.

Wurzbach Parkway progress

"I do intend to have everything complete by the end of the month."

That was the declaration of the project superintendent with Texas Sterling Construction, which is constructing the parkway between Jones-Maltsberger and Wetmore. All that's remaining on the project, they say, is some concrete repair on the parkway near Jones-Maltsberger, the completion of a median barrier near the city's brush dump site and lane striping.

That, and the punch list. The first copy of the project's punch list (to-do items needing fixed, addressed, or some finishing touches) was distributed Tuesday morning.

The concrete repair requires the use of some special steel and may take as long as two weeks, but other tasks can happen concurrently. The only thing that could lag and push the project beyond Halloween for completion is the final segment of median barrier. That work has to wait until Texas Sterling is ready to put traffic on the parkway between Jones-Maltsberger and Starcrest, and the barrier itself will take at least a week to construct.

Realistic estimates show the project could be completed with workers (and equipment) moved off the prjoect by early November. Traffic could be using the parkway as early as mid-October with the finishing touches still being done.

The final segment

The last segment of Wurzbach to finish will extend from West Avenue to Jones-Maltsberger, and that is on schedule to be finished mid-2015.

Right now, Williams Brothers Construction is working on the U.S. 281 overpass at Bitters Road, preparing the bridge for a bit of extra space on the southbound side. With utilities companies working to put in drain structures along the southbound frontage road, work on the new entrance and exit ramp between Bitters and Nakoma are on deck to be built, with major work to start within the next two weeks.

As for the Wurzbach Parkway overpass at U.S. 281, crews are using overnight closures this week and next to set bridge deck panels (large concrete plates that form the body of the bridge deck). This week crews will work over the northbound lanes, and next week they'll move over onto the southbound side. Once the panels and overhang structures are in place, bridge crews will be ready to set the steel reinforcement cages and then pour concrete.

While work on the parkway itself is cruising - most off the actual roadway is already built, and a casual observer might think the road is nearly ready for use - the work along U.S. 281 needs to finish up before we can seriously think about a specific end date on the job. That work includes the heretofore mentioned exit and entrance ramps on the southbound side, the new south-to-north turnaround at Nakoma, a reconstructed north-to-south turnaround at Nakoma, the new Wurzbach Parkway exit on the northbound side, the new Bitters Road exit on the northbound side, and the new entrance ramp on the northbound side. Each of these items are under work right now, and should be finished in 2015.