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.