The latest on the I-10 Huebner project

The most obvious work being done across the project is between UTSA Boulevard and at the Fredericksburg Road overpass bridge (near Huebner Road). Most of it is work to prepare for the next huge task along the project, which should get going during the first quarther of 2014.

Crews are busily preparing for the next major phase of work on the I-10 Huebner project: the expansion and raising of the DeZavala overpass bridge.

That huge task - the expansion and raising of the DeZavala Road overpass bridges - will pare down traffic to three lanes in each direction. That is, three narrow lanes ... and traffic will experience some dramatic shifts. We'll also have the turnarounds at DeZavala closed through that phase.

But that's still several weeks away. For now, let's talk about the areas being worked on actively.

UTSA Boulevard/DeZavala Road

Work on the retaining wall under UTSA Boulevard - at least on the eastbound side - is nearly complete. After about a year and a half of working on that wall, it's a relief to get it done. (To be fair, five of those 18 months were tied up in the bankuptcy proceedings of Ballenger Construction, and the wall was barely done when Ballenger left the job; current contractors only worked on the wall for about five months.)

The retaining wall on the eastbound side of I-10 at UTSA Blvd is nearly complete.

With the eastbound side reaching completion, work is chugging along on the westbound side. We'll still be working on that side for quite a while, but we are making progress (wet weather notwithstanding).

Crews are nearly finished with excavation for the new retaining wall on the westbound side of I-10 at UTSA Boulevard ... and those soil nail wall crews are slated to get involved here by the end of the year.

Daily commuters may see the barrier and the excavation happening between UTSA Boulevard and DeZavala Road, wondering what exactly is going on there. I mean, let's be honest: there is a lot of material being excavated out there. So what is it?

Plenty of excavation work to go around between UTSA Blvd and DeZavala Road; it will make way for expanded main lanes as well as a detention pond.

Well, to help the road we're working on stay dry, we need to build the drain structures needed to get water off the roadway. That includes a detention pond area in that space between the eastbound access road and the eastbound main lanes. So that's the biggest thing that's happening. But we're also widening the road - the main lanes, that is - between UTSA Boulevard and DeZavala Road. This work will continue through the month and into December. And it's necessary to finish up before getting into the DeZavala overpass phase mentioned above.

Fredericksburg Road

Since the entrance ramp near the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center has been closed - and that is a permanent closure - our contractor has been hard at work building a new retaining wall to match the footprint of the main lanes without the ramp. While we're nearing the end of work on one of the segments of that wall, we are gearing up for some heavy work on another wall.

 

Work on what was an entrance ramp near the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center continues - in the distance, for this picture. The ramp was permanently removed this summer and is being razed to make room for the expansion of the highway.

Once we're done with the work at Fred Road, we'll be able to start hitting the Woodstone exit hard. That exit ramp is getting a second lane and becoming the DeZavala Road/Woodstone Drive exit. Only when that ramp is ready, we'll get rid of the current DeZavala Road exit ramp, which is being eliminated for its redundance.

Next week's construction-related road closures

Interstate 10

Friday-Monday, October 25-28

10 p.m. until 5 a.m. continuous

Westbound main lanes between I-410 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews resurface the road. Expect delays.

 

Monday, October 28

9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Main lanes between Walters Street and I-410 (east San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close in both directions while survey crews collect data. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Friday, October 28-November 1

8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily

Eastbound frontage road between Fredericksburg Road and Wurzbach Road (northwest San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews resurface the road. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Friday, October 28-November 1

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Westbound main lanes between Woodstone and DeZavala roads (northwest San Antonio)

The left lane will close while crews set barrier. The turnaround at Woodstone will also close. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Friday, October 28-November 1

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Eastbound frontage roads between DeZavala and Fredericksburg roads (northwest San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews set barrier. The exit ramp to Fredericksburg Road will also close. Traffic will exit Huebner Road. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Friday, October 28-November 1

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Eastbound frontage roads between UTSA Boulevard and DeZavala Road (northwest San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews excavate dirt. The turnaround at UTSA Boulevard will also close. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Friday, October 28-November 1

10 p.m. until 9 a.m. nightly

Westbound main lanes between I-410 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)

The three left lanes will close while crews resurface the road. Expect delays.

 

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 29-30

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m.

Eastbound main lanes between Martin Luther King Drive and Houston Street (east San Atonio)

The right lane will close while crews prepare the Houston Street exit to reopen. The exit ramp has been closed since mid-summer 2013 and is opening in time for the San Antonio Spurs regular-season opener.

 

Interstate 35

Sunday-Friday, October 27-November 1

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Northbound main lanes between Forum Parkway and Schertz Parkway (Selma-Shertz)

Alternating lanes will close while crews construct the center median barrier and pave the highway surface. Two lanes will close at a time. Expect delays.

 

Interstate 37

Sunday-Friday, October 27-November 1

6 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly

Southbound main lanes between Highway 181 and Leal Road (southeast Bexar County)

Alternating lanes will close while crews texture the shoulders. Expect delays.

 

Interstate 410

No closures scheduled.

 

Loop 1604

Saturday, October 26

7 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Main lanes between Stone Oak Parkway and Redland Road (north San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the road lanes. For more information visitwww.alamorma.org.

 

U.S. Highway 90

No closures scheduled.

 

U.S. Highway 281

Saturday, October 26

6 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

Northbound frontage road between Country Parkway and Heimer Road (north San Antonio)

The right lane will close while crews widen the road. Expect delays.

 

Saturday, October 26

7 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Northbound main lanes between Brook Hollow and Loop 1604 (north San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the road lanes. This work is being done by contractors working for the Alamo RMA. More information visit www.alamorma.org.

 

Sunday-Saturday, October 27-November 2

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Northbound frontage road between Arion Parkway and Maltsberger Lane (north San Antonio)

The left lane will close while crews work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge support structure. This closure will include the Nakoma Drive entrance ramp and the right lane of the Bitters Road exit ramp. Expect delays.

 

Monday, October 29

9 a.m. until noon

Northbound main lanes at Brookhollow Bridge (north San Antonio)

The right lane will close while survey crews collect data.

 

Other roads

Saturday-Sunday, October 26-27

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m.

Bitters Road at U.S. Highway 281 (north San Antonio)

All lanes of Bitters Road will close while crews pour the bridge deck expansion for the U.S. 281 overpass. This closure includes the turnaround lanes along the Hwy 281 frontage road. Traffic will use the frontage roads and Nakoma Drive or Winding Way, as needed, to reach their destination. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Tuesday, October 28-29

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Medical Drive between Ewing Halsell Drive and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center)

Alternating lanes will close while crews remove curb and sidewalk. Expect delays.

 

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 29-30

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Medical Drive between Ewing Halsell Drive and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center)

Alternating lanes will close while crews place barriers. Expect delays.

 

Wednesday-Thursday, October 30-31

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Medical Drive between Ewing Halsell Drive and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center)

The right eastbound lane will close while crews construct a temporary driveway. Expect delays.

 

All planned lane closures are pending weather.

Frontage roads project in Seguin breaks ground

Though work officially began October 13, Texas Department of Transportation officials joined civic and elected officials of Seguin Monday to mark the start of a unique frontage road project along westbound I-10 in Seguin that will enhance safety, mobility and economic development.

The new frontage road will connect state Highway 46 and Farm to Market 464 on the city’s northwest side. The road will be mostly one-way – westbound – but feature a two-way frontage road between Friesenhahn Road and Hwy 46. The total estimated project cost is $4.7 million and should wrap up late summer 2014.

Funding for the project is where the story of this frontage road becomes unique: the project is entirely funded by local coffers, with money coming from three separate sources. The city of Seguin and the Seguin Economic Development Corporation Will pay as much as $1.25 million each, for a total of $2.5 million effectively coming from the city. NewQuest Properties, a commercial development company with plans to bring a major shopping center to the area, will pay the remaining tab. The estimated portion of NewQuest’s share currently sits at about $2.2 million, but that number could go up if the project requires.

“This partnership with others exemplifies exactly what we strive to do,” TxDOT spokesman Josh Donat said. “Those who pay attention to the news and to our community are aware of the transportation funding struggles we face in this state. But when local agencies and private developers come to us with an opportunity like this, we celebrate – this is how our partnerships get projects done.”

Continued development of frontage roads – between state Highway 123 and FM 464 – is on the current TxDOT five-year plan. This project is the first step in that process. Angel Brothers Enterprises, of New Braunfels, is constructing the two-lane frontage road, which will also feature protected turn lanes for those entering the proposed commercial development. Necessary utility lines will be extended along the frontage road to serve the new development as well.

This week's construction-related closures

Interstate 10

Saturday-Sunday, October 19-20

10 p.m. until 9 a.m.

Westbound main lanes between I-410 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)

The three right lanes will close while crews resurface the road. This closure includes alternating entrance and exit ramps as needed. Expect delays.

 

Sunday-Friday, October 20-25

9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly

Westbound main lanes between I-410 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)

The three right lanes will close while crews resurface the road. This closure includes alternating entrance and exit ramps as needed. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Thursday, October 21-24

9 a.m. until 3 p.m. nightly

Main lanes, both directions, between I-35 and New Braunfels Avenue (downtown)

Alternating lanes will close while survey crews take pavement cores. Watch for traffic control trucks.

 

Monday-Friday, October 21-25

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Westbound frontage road between Woodstone Road and DeZavala Road (northwest San Antonio)

The left lane will close while crews set concrete barriers. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Friday, October 21-25

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Eastbound frontage road between UTSA Boulevard and DeZavala Road (northwest San Antonio)

The left lane will close while crews excavate dirt. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Friday, October 21-25

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Eastbound frontage road between DeZavala and Fredericksburg roads (northwest San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews set concrete barriers. Expect delays.

 

Interstate 35

Sunday-Friday, October 20-25

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Main lanes, both directions, between Evans Road and Olympia Parkway (Selma)

Two of the three existing lanes will close in each direction while crews construct the center median and the overhead highway sign supports. Expect delays.

 

Sunday-Friday, October 20-25

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Main lanes, both directions, at FM 3009 (Schertz)

Two of the three existing lanes will close in each direction while crews work on the FM 3009 turnaround bridges. Expect delays.

 

Interstate 37

Saturday-Friday, October 19-25

6 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly

Southbound main lanes between Highway 181 and Leal Road (southeast Bexar County)

Alternating lanes will close while crews texture the shoulders. Expect delays.

 

Interstate 410

No closures scheduled.

 

Loop 1604

Friday-Saturday, October 18-19

10 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Westbound main lanes between Redland Road and Stone Oak Parkway (north San Antonio)

All lanes will close while crews remove and replace asphalt that did not pass inspection. This work is supervised by the Alamo RMA. For more information visit www.alamorma.org.

 

Saturday-Sunday, October 19-21

10 p.m. until 10 p.m. continuous

Eastbound main lanes between Stone Oak Parkway and Gold Canyon (north San Antonio)

All lanes will close while crews remove and replace asphalt that did not pass inspection. This work is supervised by the Alamo RMA. For more information visit www.alamorma.org.

 

U.S. Highway 90

No closures scheduled.

 

U.S. Highway 281

Sunday-Saturday, October 20-26

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Northbound frontage road between Arion Parkway and Maltsberger Lane (north San Antonio)

The left lane and auxiliary lane will close while crews work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge support structures. Expect delays.

 

Sunday-Saturday, October 20-26

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Northbound exit ramp to Bitters Road (north San Antonio)

The right lane will close while crews work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge support structures. Expect delays.

 

Other roads

Friday-Monday, October 18-21

Midnight until 5:30 a.m. continuous

Jones-Maltsberger between Arion Parkway and Old Bitters Road (north San Antonio)

All lanes will close while crews reconstruct the roadway and switch traffic into a new pattern. Traffic will use Bitters Road, the U.S. Highway 281 frontage roads and Arion Parkway to reach their destination. Expect delays.

 

Sunday-Saturday, October 20-26

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Bitters Road at U.S. Highway 281 (north San Antonio)

All lanes of Bitters Road – including the U.S. Highway 281 turnarounds – will close while crews work on the U.S. Highway 281 overpass bridge. Traffic will use the frontage roads and Nakoma or Winding Way to reach their destination. Expect delays.

 

Sunday-Monday, October 20-21

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Fredericksburg Road (Loop 345) between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center)

The right northbound lane will close while crews install a water valve. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Tuesday, October 21-22

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Fredericksburg Road (Loop 345) between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center)

The right southbound lane will close while crews install a water valve. Expect delays.

 

Tuesday, October 22

3 a.m. until 6 a.m.

U.S. Highway 87 (Main Street) at Cibolo Creek (Boerne)

All lanes will close while crews pour concrete. Traffic will use River Road, Esser Street and Blanco Road to reach their destination. Expect delays.

 

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 22-23

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Medical Drive between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center)

The right eastbound lane will close while crews move and set concrete barrier. Expect delays.

 

Wednesday-Friday, October 23-25

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Fredericksburg Road (Loop 345) between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center)

The right southbound lane will close while crews install a water valve. Expect delays.

 

All planned lane closures are pending weather.

Fred-Med update....

The rain this week pushed back the anticipated SAWS work that would necessitate a number of overnight water shut-offs. Ironic, right? Rainwater delays water work? Anyway.

As of Thursday morning, that work was planned to be done next week, following (basically) the same schedule as last week ... with a few minor adjustments.

• Sunday night, the buildings northeast corner of the intersection will be impacted; that is, Oak Cliff Village.
• Monday and Tuesday nights the buildings on the northwest corner of the intersection - primarily a storage facility - will be impacted.
• Wednesday and Thursday nights the buildings on the southwest corner of the intersection, including the Texaco gas station and the neighboring business complex, will be impacted.

This should minimize the impact on local businesses while we do this work. Again, we anticipate the water shut-offs will begin at about 8 p.m. and last until 5 a.m. Preparation work is being done to minimize the time these services are interrupted.

This should be the only major water shut-off during the project, according to project managers. Other services may be interrupted along the way - such as gas and power - as other lines are adjusted. Adequate advanced notice will be given of those interruptions as they arise.

A little rain on our parade ... er, projects

How does rain - and I mean the kind of rain we've gotten recently, and are likely to get through the weekend - impact highway construction projects?

Well, that depends on the project. Because the question is asked so frequently, let's go through some answers. Before we dive into details, though, let's get something clear right away:

Adverse weather does not typically delay the overall completion of a project. When a project schedule an overall completion date is estimated, we take into account the chance of poor weather.

The greatest impact is on our dirt work. This means excavation for drain boxes or utility lines. As one can imagine, digging out a sound hole in order to form and lay a stable utility system or a quality drain system is difficult when dirt becomes mud.

The other thing it stops us from doing is the excavation of the actual roadway. Beneath the asphalt is several inches - feet, actually - of different materials. There are several layers of asphalt, then a layer of oil and rock (seal coat), and under that some layers of various dirt materials. We call it "subgrade", and it acts as a sure-footed foundation for the road.

When weather is this wet, though, we can't build the subgrade. We really can't cut the road path, either. Kind of - here it is - puts a damper on our work.

We also can't lay asphalt, and we can't paint road markers.

So ... what can we do?

We can construct the steel-frame supports that strengthen our concrete structures - like bridges, and retaining walls, and sidewalks or curbs. We can set the forms that shape these structures. And, when safe to do so (we don't want to have our guys slipping on surfaces with poor footing), we can actually pour concrete. The means bridge work can generally continue - provided conditions are safe - and we can build curbs, sidewalks and retaining walls. We can also build  the concrete skirts you see around bridge bases designed to help minimize erosion at the structures.

And that's it. That's what we can do. We can install highway signs and clean the roadway as well, which we do a fair job at!

The biggest thing we depend on during this sort of weather is you - the driver. We depend on drivers staying safe and making smart driving decisions with the wet roads. Safety is always our top priority!

Parkway Progress

The latest updates on the Wurzbach Parkway project:

 

The week's construction-related closures

Interstate 10

Friday-Thursday, October 11-17

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Westbound main lanes between I-410 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)

The three right lanes and shoulder will close while crews resurface the road. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Wednesday, October 14-16

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

East-to-west turnaround at DeZavala Road (northwest San Antonio)

The turnaround will close while crews use excavation equipment in the area. Traffic will use the intersection to reach their destination.

 

Monday-Friday, October 14-18

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Westbound frontage road between DeZavala Road and UTSA Boulevard (northwest San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews set barrier.

 

Monday-Friday, October 14-18

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Eastbound frontage road between UTSA Boulevard and Fredericksburg Road (northwest San Antonio)

Alternating lanes will close while crews set barrier.

 

Wednesday-Friday, October 16-18

9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

West-to-east turnaround at DeZavala Road (northwest San Antonio)

The turnaround will close while crews use excavation equipment in the area. Traffic will use the intersection to reach their destination.

 

Interstate 35

Sunday-Friday, October 13-18

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Northbound main lanes between Powell Street and Malone (downtown)

Alternating lanes will close while crews strip and mark the road. Expect delays.

 

Interstate 37

No closures scheduled.

 

Interstate 410

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 15-16

9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily

Westbound exit ramp to I-37 (southeast San Antonio)

The exit ramp will close while crews repair the guard rail. Traffic will use South Presa Street exit and turnaround to reach I-37. Expect delays.

 

Loop 1604

No closures scheduled.

 

U.S. Highway 90

No closures scheduled.

 

U.S. Highway 281

Sunday-Saturday, October 13-19

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Southbound main lanes between Interpark and North Park Drive (north San Antonio)

The auxiliary lane will close while crews work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge support structures.

 

Sunday-Saturday, October 13-19

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Southbound frontage road between Interpark and North Park Drive (north San Antonio)

The center and left lanes will close while crews work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge support structures.

 

Sunday-Saturday, October 13-19

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Northbound frontage road between Arion Parkway and Maltsberger Lane (north San Antonio)

The left two lanes, including the auxiliary lane between the Bitters Road exit and Nakoma entrance ramps, will close while crews work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge support structures.

 

Sunday-Saturday, October 13-19

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Northbound exit ramp to Bitters Road (north San Antonio)

The right lane will close while crews work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge support structures.

 

Other roads

Sunday-Saturday, October 13-19

10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly

Bitters Road at U.S. Highway 281 (north San Antonio)

All lanes of Bitters Road will close while crews work on the overpass bridge expansion. Westbound traffic will turn right on the northbound U.S. 281 frontage road and turn around at Winding Way to continue on Bitters Road. Eastbound traffic will turn right on the southbound U.S. 281 frontage road and turn around at Nakoma to continue on Bitters Road. Expect delays.

 

Monday-Tuesday, October 14-15

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Westbound Medical Drive between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (medical center)

The right lane will close while crews work on new, temporary driveway.

 

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 15-16

8 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Northbound Fredericksburg Road (Loop 345) between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (medical center)

The right lane will close while crews work on a water line adjustment.

 

Wednesday-Saturday, October 16-20

8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly

Southbound Fredericksburg Road (Loop 345) between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (medical center)

The right lane will close while crews work on a water line adjustment.

 

All planned lane closures are pending weather.