LOTS of info on the three Wurzbach Parkway projects this week. Here goes….
The Blanco-to-West segment is finally at a point where we feel like we’re actually doing construction work and not just clean-up. Sure, we’ve still got some cleaning to do, but we’ve got a plan of attack and we’re beginning to implement that plan. Because of all the project cleaning, we’re looking at an early fall completion date rather than the mid-summer completion. I know, it’s frustrating. Remember – the delay will mean no extra cost to the state.
The focus of work on the western end of the project is at Blanco Road. We anticipate pouring concrete to finish the sidewalks and get the west-to-east turnaround complete at Blanco Road. This will allow us to move traffic over, coming from Blanco onto Vista Del Norte, onto the permanent roadway while we finish the underground work in the area by digging up the roadway that’s currently in use. We’re hoping to make that shift by the end of the month.
The need to address the flapping visual barrier panels is not falling on deaf ears. (Although they may be deaf if we sit by those panels in the wind after more than a few minutes!) The contractor has ordered the materials to complete those, and we have stressed the importance of making this a priority.
Some folks have erected a bit of a shrine paying homage to a woman who was killed on the east-bound Wurzbach Parkway exit ramp at Bitters. These flowers, candles and cards have been placed at an overhead sign board column that is still part of an active construction zone. While we respect the sentiments of those grieving over such a tragic loss, we also hope the community recognizes we have work to do. While this isn’t part of the critical path of work, eventually our contractor will need to remove the candles, etc., in order to finish their work. Talking with the contractor today, seems we won’t be moving them immediately. When the imminent time to move these items comes, I’ll use this medium to let folks know so they can pick up their homage. Once the hard date, yet to be announced, arrives (and I’ll try to give at least a few days’ notice), the contractor will remove them.
Again, we do not want to seem insensitive. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are mourning the loss.
The segment between West Avenue and Jones-Maltsberger continues to gain momentum as Williams Brothers redirects assets previously working on the Loop 1604-US 281 interchange onto the Wurzbach Parkway project. Bridge crews are at work at Jones-Maltsberger, US 281 and at West Avenue. We’re still several weeks away from hanging bridge-support beams for these structures, but we hope to be at that point mid- to late-summer.
In the meantime, the north-bound frontage road of US 281 should be getting a ton of attention. The biggest effort to date will begin the middle of next week as crews begin widening the frontage road between the Parkway and the vacant car dealership. You’ll see crews setting barrier to protect the work zone, and you’ll lose a lane of the frontage road to the work in the process. We’ll be tearing into a few driveways, but we’ll work hard to maintain access to those locations impacted. Most of the first stages of this work will be excavation as we dig up what has been the shoulder and sidewalk area.
We’ll also be setting barrier near the main lanes and along the frontage road near Nakoma, as we begin to install some of the drain features in that area. I don’t anticipate losing lanes in that area for now, but stay tuned through the summer.
A small segment of the parkway – the west-bound frontage road at US 281 – will be open to private use beginning this weekend, weather permitting. This is intended for the use of a private property that has driveway access to the property. The segment will only extend a few hundred feet, and will connect to nothing more than the private driveway. This driveway previously connected to North Loop Road and would be cut off by work that has become imminent. Please, unless you intend to access this private residence, do not use this small segment of the parkway.
Crews working between Jones-Maltsberger and Wetmore will shift their focus away from the Mud Creek Bridge for a while and begin efforts near Jones-Maltsberger instead. Challenges at Mud Creek (we have some ride-quality issues left over from the previous contractor) have sent project managers to the drawing board, so to speak, to figure out the most efficient way to address these issues. Workers will now finish the sidewalk/walking path along the west-bound side of the parkway that abuts the practice fields and other properties on the north side of the parkway between Jones-Maltsberger and Old Blanco Road. Once the concrete work is done, subcontractors will get the future north-bound lanes of Jones-Maltsberger ready to hold traffic and we’ll move traffic over while we finish building the improvements at that intersection.
We anticipate moving traffic over on Jones-Maltsberger toward the end of the summer. Remember: when this switch takes place, we’ll still be down to a single lane in each direction. We have more work to do still on the side of the road currently in use.
Job bosses hope to have an idea as to how to attack the Mud Creek issues early summer, and will have the traffic on Starcrest moved onto the permanent Starcrest-Wurzbach intersection later this year. This will allow the work on the future west-bound lanes to begin (the future east-bound lanes are paved and nearly ready for traffic … just waiting on the bridge to follow suit). We’re hoping to make this switch sooner rather than later, as we are aware of the rapidly deteriorating condition of Starcrest in the area. Again, we’re maintaining safety there … but that doesn’t mean always a comfy ride.
All in all, that eastern segment should be finished about this time next year (fingers crossed!).
Please … keep in mind these schedule goals are weather permitting, and any “surprises” inherent to construction may also change schedules. None of these delays will cost taxpayers additional money. What’s happened on the parkway with contractors over the last year isn’t the fault of the folks funding this work, and you won’t be financially punished by it. I know it’s an added inconvenience … believe me, you’re not alone in that sentiment. We’ve got thinly stretched crews who planned on being done with this work to focus on other jobs who are looking forward to this stuff being finished more than you know!