An open house meeting is being held tonight at the Helotes City Hall to discuss plans for Hausman Road outside Loop 1604. That meeting will run from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Hausman Road, from Loop 1604 to Bandera Road, is labeled FM 1560 on the state highways register. Between Loop 1604 and I-10 - inside the loop - Hausman Road is a city road, and work on that segment is ongoing under the direction of San Antonio's Department of Public Works.
For now, Hausman Road is all TxDOT's between the loop and Bandera Road; it's a secondary entryway into Helotes, and is the home of the Helotes Post Office.
TxDOT has plans to expand the road to a four-lane road with a center left turn lane, bike lanes and sidewalks - essentially matching the road the city is building inside the loop. For now, that plan is fairly general; no details have been etched in stone. This open house is an opportunity for folks who wish to have input on the project make sure they get a chance to be heard.
The open-house format will also allow people to ask questions of TxDOT planners and other staff.
Again, the meeting is tonight, Feb. 27, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Helotes City Hall on Bandera Road.
Thursday, February 27
Tuesday, February 25
I-10 Huebner: still a whole lot of walls
Still working on retaining walls through the project, and that will be the ongoing theme throughout the project for the foreseeable future.
Why so many dang retaining walls?
This project is adding lanes - one lane each way - to the main lanes of traffic. The main lanes are elevated in most locations, and are against hillsides in others. Plainly put, just about every linear foot of roadway we're working on needs a retaining wall to prevent deterioration of a hillside. At UTSA Blvd, for instance, the retaining wall is keeping the slope of the hill supporting the UTSA Blvd bridge from eroding away. The westbound side near the Huebner Oaks Shopping Center is getting a retaining wall in order to keep the right main lane from sliding into the frontage road.
The bottom line: retaining walls are a very important part of this project. In fact, we have 16 planned walls on this project. Once those walls are built, work on the actual road structures in those areas will start.
The biggest exception - and even this requires a lot of retaining wall work - is the reconstruction of the DeZavala Rd overpass. That year-long task is targeted to begin in March with the demolition of center median barrier to build temporary lanes. Traffic will switch in April, if all goes well.
Wurzbach Parkway update
Blanco to West
Consistently the biggest concern folks share is about the opening of the Blanco Road overpass bridge. Last week we posted a short video talking about the delay and the solution.
A paving subcontractor is on board to address the surface issues on the bridge deck. We're waiting to get an asphalt batch that meets approved standards (that comes from the asphalt plant), and we should be ready to pave just a day or two after a batch is approved. Project bosses are still targeting the end of March to have the bridge open, if weather permits.
Otherwise, a few small items are being addressed. These include:
- Lighting at the Blanco overpass. Some of the wiring hadn't been put in because of a blockage in the conduit. Electricians are saying the issue has been resolved and lights should be on this week.
- The westbound sign for Vista Del Norte. A bike lane sign was obscuring the VDN sign; we put our best guys on it this week and it is done.
- Yield signs for the westbound exit ramp to Blanco Road. We will not be posting yield signs at the end of exit ramps on this project, in line with our area-wide policy to replace yield signs with a double white line that shouldn't be crossed. The idea is safety; we've actually seen a reduction in crashes when we've removed the yield signs for the white lines.
West to Jones-Maltsberger
Jones-Maltsberger to Wetmore
Bridge crews are planning to pour the remaining bridge deck at Salado Creek this week. Meanwhile, the two abutments and first two (of four) column caps will be poured in the nest two weeks. Abutments and column caps serve as a resting spot for bridge support beams, which hold the bridge deck up. In a best-case scenario with weather and resources we would have the bridge deck built by Labor Day.
Meanwhile, three other areas are being addressed with effort: the westbound widening of Starcrest, the widening of Jones-Maltsberger and the entryway of the city's brush site. With concrete crews about to be made available (while concrete structures cure), project planners will move them over to the brush site entryway to hammer out some of the road work remaining there (the roadway is made up of concrete slabs in that vicinity).
The road widening at JM is still being coordinated; the driveways involved, plus the coordination with another contractor, have made planning sluggish. We should be ready to hit that area in March.
At Starcrest, though, we're looking at March 3 to start the work. This date is tentative and is still very weather dependent. The work will block one of the entrances to the soccer fields across from Gardenville, but only during the week. Bosses with Texas Sterling Construction have committed to do heat they can to be out of the way by the end of the week.
Thursday, February 20
Southbound route to SAMMC to change (and other I-35 items)
SAMMC-area work
I bet right about now you're scratching your head, wondering how that will happen overnight....
A temporary ramp is being constructed, and it's a lot closer to George Beach than the current one is. In fact, the temporary ramp dumps traffic onto the frontage road right about at Petroleum Drive (a small, seldom-used road that once served as an additional entryway to Fort Sam Houston). When that ramp is opened Thursday night (Feb. 27), the current exit ramp to George Beach will close. Crews will begin turning that exit ramp into an entrance ramp from Rittiman Road. (I'm working on a graphic ... Hope to have it up Friday.)
Here's the rub: as it is, rush-hour traffic headed into SAMMC stacks up onto the main lanes while waiting to get into the gate of the base. With less frontage road to hold that traffic, that queue will likely stack up even more. We're advising people to use other gates to get into Fort Sam (where possible) or exit Rittiman and move through the signal there.
Whatever your route, you'll need to add a few minutes to your daily commute.
Olympia Parkway
Work continues in the northbound exit ramp to Olympia Parkway (we're adding an exit lane there), and (for the time being) it's carrying double the load while being rebuilt. The exit to FM 1518 remains closed to allow widening work to progress, pushing traffic headed to the FM road onto the Frontage road sooner by way of the Olympia Parkway ramp. The ramp for FM 1518 is on pace to reopen by April 1 (no Foolin'!).
The southbound side is nearing a change, though. Those who've been following know crews worked a ton of overtime to have the exit open - and all roads open to The Forum - by doing some temporary work. This includes placing temporary concrete barriers and leaving undone some asphalt work. Those temporary measures will be removed for the permanent solutions starting March 2.
This means the southbound exit to Olympia Parkway will close until the ramp is finished; project supervisors anticipate less three weeks. Traffic will exit FM 1518 to reach Olympia Parkway and Forum Parkway.
Widening
Road-builders are still working to add width to the main lanes and frontage roads, particularly between FM 1518 and Forum Parkway. This requires continued closures on the access roads, both directions, as paving operations and large trucks do what they need to do. Frontage roads are limited to a single lane during this work.
Crews are also working in what has been the shoulder area of the main lanes, adding the space to make room for the extra lane of traffic being added. We hope to have most of this widening work done somewhere around Spring Break.
Fred-Med project all about drill shafts, utilities
Drill shafts making up the retaining wall supports along the westbound lanes do Medical Drive approaching the intersection of Fredericksburg Road remains the overarching ficus of work on the project. This overnight work has yielded between two and four drill shafts a night (depending on the rock the drillers hit in the process) and should be wrapping up in the next week.
Drilling is one of the noisiest activities a construction project like this calls for. Other similarly noisy and otherwise disruptive efforts (to those living or working or otherwise doing business nearby) include pounding iron palings, milling material as part of excavation and compacting asphalt.
This drilling work includes drill shafts across Fredericksburg Road - the steel plates over the road are covering these drill shafts during the day so traffic can safely move they rough the intersection without restriction. Drillers will finish on the westbound side by the end of the month and move to the eastbound side through the month of March.
These steel plates will be in place for an extended period of time. A small amount of cold-mix asphalt is used to offer a bit of a ramp up and around these plates, dulling the edges. Those who routinely drive the area should get used to these plates, though.
After the drill shafts are done, project bosses plan to have crews working in trenches under the plates - around-the-clock at times - to build the retaining walls that will mark the sides of the future underpass. That underground work - really, it's "confined space" work - will help minimize the time Fredericksburg Road is closed to build the actual bridge structure this fall.
Crews will also build the slide pads, on which the prebuilt bridge deck will slide when the contractor is ready to build the bridge. A new-to-Texas technique is being used, called slide-in-place bridge placement.
Meanwhile, occasional daytime closures have been used by SAWS in the immediate vicinity to repair or adjust services to their customers. This work, though within our work zone, is not part of our contract. These daytime lane closures are approved through SAWS channels, not through TxDOT.
And here's a 360-degree view of the intersection as it was this morning. We'll try to post these 360-degree photos throughout the project to show progression. This shot is taken from right about the top of the wall that will be built to seperate the main lanes of Medical Drive, which will run under Fredericksburg Road, and the exit lanes.
Drilling is one of the noisiest activities a construction project like this calls for. Other similarly noisy and otherwise disruptive efforts (to those living or working or otherwise doing business nearby) include pounding iron palings, milling material as part of excavation and compacting asphalt.
This drilling work includes drill shafts across Fredericksburg Road - the steel plates over the road are covering these drill shafts during the day so traffic can safely move they rough the intersection without restriction. Drillers will finish on the westbound side by the end of the month and move to the eastbound side through the month of March.
These steel plates will be in place for an extended period of time. A small amount of cold-mix asphalt is used to offer a bit of a ramp up and around these plates, dulling the edges. Those who routinely drive the area should get used to these plates, though.
After the drill shafts are done, project bosses plan to have crews working in trenches under the plates - around-the-clock at times - to build the retaining walls that will mark the sides of the future underpass. That underground work - really, it's "confined space" work - will help minimize the time Fredericksburg Road is closed to build the actual bridge structure this fall.
Crews will also build the slide pads, on which the prebuilt bridge deck will slide when the contractor is ready to build the bridge. A new-to-Texas technique is being used, called slide-in-place bridge placement.
Meanwhile, occasional daytime closures have been used by SAWS in the immediate vicinity to repair or adjust services to their customers. This work, though within our work zone, is not part of our contract. These daytime lane closures are approved through SAWS channels, not through TxDOT.
And here's a 360-degree view of the intersection as it was this morning. We'll try to post these 360-degree photos throughout the project to show progression. This shot is taken from right about the top of the wall that will be built to seperate the main lanes of Medical Drive, which will run under Fredericksburg Road, and the exit lanes.
Tuesday, February 18
Wurzbach Parkway progress
Wetmore to Jones-Maltsbergrer
More of the work to get the Mud Creek bridge has been finished - the support columns are all formed and built; the forms for the column caps are scheduled to be delivered this week. The columns will take about two weeks (weather allowing) to finish. Once the columns are capped, bridge crews can set beams and build the bridge deck.
On the other end of this segment, paving crews are scheduled to lay asphalt on Jones-Maltsberger (the future southbound lanes) Thursday. Recent weather issues have pushed this work back a bit; project bosses had initially planned to have the work done in January. With the new asphalt in place, traffic will be moved to begin using the actual lanes planned for the respective directions. That means southbound traffic will be on southbound lanes and northbound traffic will be on the northbound lanes. Some work remains in the middle if the road - that will happen over the few weeks after the next switch - but traffic on J-M should be about where it will stay by mid-spring.
Jones-Maltsberger to West Avenue
The most visible work right now is at West Avenue and along U.S. Highway 281. At West Avenue, bridge crews are scheduled to finish pouring the bridge deck this weekend. The first half was poured last weekend ... The upcoming work will mirror what was done before. This will mean alternating lane closures starting at 6:30 Saturday morning just as we had Feb. 15. This will finish the bridge deck and allow crews to focus on the surrounding features and the barrier rail lining the bridge.
On U.S. 281, the push is on the northbound side. Dirt crews continue to build up the area for the new Wurzbach Parkway exit ramp under Nakoma while a subcontractor continues work on drain structures near the future braided ramp exiting to Blanco ans entering from Nakoma. This drain structure needs to be built before the support structures for the ramps.
Just because this segment is seen the least of the three segments, here's a look (end to end) at the work being done. Note: this video was shot during the workers' lunch hour, so don't be alarmed if you don't see a bunch of guys actually doing the work!
More of the work to get the Mud Creek bridge has been finished - the support columns are all formed and built; the forms for the column caps are scheduled to be delivered this week. The columns will take about two weeks (weather allowing) to finish. Once the columns are capped, bridge crews can set beams and build the bridge deck.
On the other end of this segment, paving crews are scheduled to lay asphalt on Jones-Maltsberger (the future southbound lanes) Thursday. Recent weather issues have pushed this work back a bit; project bosses had initially planned to have the work done in January. With the new asphalt in place, traffic will be moved to begin using the actual lanes planned for the respective directions. That means southbound traffic will be on southbound lanes and northbound traffic will be on the northbound lanes. Some work remains in the middle if the road - that will happen over the few weeks after the next switch - but traffic on J-M should be about where it will stay by mid-spring.
Jones-Maltsberger to West Avenue
The most visible work right now is at West Avenue and along U.S. Highway 281. At West Avenue, bridge crews are scheduled to finish pouring the bridge deck this weekend. The first half was poured last weekend ... The upcoming work will mirror what was done before. This will mean alternating lane closures starting at 6:30 Saturday morning just as we had Feb. 15. This will finish the bridge deck and allow crews to focus on the surrounding features and the barrier rail lining the bridge.
On U.S. 281, the push is on the northbound side. Dirt crews continue to build up the area for the new Wurzbach Parkway exit ramp under Nakoma while a subcontractor continues work on drain structures near the future braided ramp exiting to Blanco ans entering from Nakoma. This drain structure needs to be built before the support structures for the ramps.
Just because this segment is seen the least of the three segments, here's a look (end to end) at the work being done. Note: this video was shot during the workers' lunch hour, so don't be alarmed if you don't see a bunch of guys actually doing the work!
West Avenue to Blanco Road
The last remaining piece of this segment is the Blanco Road overpass, which remains unopened until the bridge deck surface issue is resolved. Again, it's not a structural issue but a ride-quality issue; the kind of subtle dips in that bridge deck currently existing can make the drive less comfortable that we like. It also creates a potential for puddling when rains fall.
Here's the bottom line: project bosses are targeting spring break to have the Blanco Road overpass prpopen to traffic. Several factors can impact this, including approval of a batch of asphalt mix (that is in the hands of the Vulcan Materials Company), weather (that's in the hands of a Power higher than us at TxDOT) and equipment (that's on the shoulders of Clark Construction).
Liberty Mutual has approved a plan to address the bridge deck surface; a subcontractor (enter Clark Construction) will add a surface layer of asphalt to smooth the road. Clark's equipment is scheduled to be repaired and ready to go this week; asphalt should be ready by the weekend. If the weather holds - TxDOT specifications require temperatures higher than 60 to lay asphalt - we should be able to get the work done by spring break.
Here's a look at the bridge:
The last remaining piece of this segment is the Blanco Road overpass, which remains unopened until the bridge deck surface issue is resolved. Again, it's not a structural issue but a ride-quality issue; the kind of subtle dips in that bridge deck currently existing can make the drive less comfortable that we like. It also creates a potential for puddling when rains fall.
Here's the bottom line: project bosses are targeting spring break to have the Blanco Road overpass prpopen to traffic. Several factors can impact this, including approval of a batch of asphalt mix (that is in the hands of the Vulcan Materials Company), weather (that's in the hands of a Power higher than us at TxDOT) and equipment (that's on the shoulders of Clark Construction).
Liberty Mutual has approved a plan to address the bridge deck surface; a subcontractor (enter Clark Construction) will add a surface layer of asphalt to smooth the road. Clark's equipment is scheduled to be repaired and ready to go this week; asphalt should be ready by the weekend. If the weather holds - TxDOT specifications require temperatures higher than 60 to lay asphalt - we should be able to get the work done by spring break.
Here's a look at the bridge:
Friday, February 14
Next week's construction-related closures
Interstate 10
Monday-Friday, February 17-21
9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly
Frontage roads, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close while crews move barrier.
Interstate 35
Monday-Tuesday, February 17-18
8 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Southbound exit ramp to Loop 1604 (Live Oak)
The ramp will close while crews remove barrier. Traffic will exit Forum Parkway and use the access road to reach Loop 1604. Expect delays.
Monday-Tuesday, February 17-18
8 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Northbound main lanes between Evans Road and Olympia Parkway (Live Oak)
The right lanes will close while crews set barrier. Expect delays.
Monday, February 17
9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Northbound frontage road between Phoenix Avenue and Forum Parkway (Live Oak)
The frontage road will close near The Forum at Olympia Parkway – essentially between IHOP and Red Robin – while paving crews lay the final surface of asphalt. Traffic will still be able to access The Forum through the main entrance. Expect delays.
Interstate 37
No closures scheduled.
Interstate 410
Sunday-Tuesday, February 16-18
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Southbound main lanes between I-10 and I-37 (east San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close while crews seal cracks in the asphalt.
Loop 1604
Tuesday-Thursday, February 18-20
9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly
Frontage road (Leslie Road) between Braun Road and Culebra Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close while crews conduct survey work. The main lanes will not be impacted.
U.S. Highway 90
Monday-Friday, February 17-21
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Main lanes, both directions, between Cupples and the Bexar-Medina county line (west Bexar County)
Alternating lanes will close while crews seal cracks in the asphalt.
Thursday-Friday, February 20-21
7 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily
Westbound main lanes at the Guadalupe River (Guadalupe County)
The two westbound lanes will close, forcing traffic to a single lane in each direction on the eastbound lanes, while crews pour concrete. Expect delays.
U.S. Highway 281
No closures scheduled.
Other roads
Saturday, February 15
6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
West Avenue at Wurzbach Parkway (north San Antonio)
Alternating lanes of West Avenue will close while crews pour concrete to form the Wurzbach Parkway overpass bridge deck at West Avenue. This closure includes the east-to-west turnaround on Wurzbach Parkway. Traffic will use the signaled intersection. Expect delays.
Thursday, February 20
9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
FM 140 between Peach and Elm (Pearsall)
The road will completely close at the Union Pacific Railroad crossing in Pearsall while railroad crews work on the crossing. Traffic will use the railroad crossing on Medina to reach its destination. Expect delays.
All planned lane closures are pending weather.
Thursday, February 13
Future projects: Loop 1604 (east San Antonio), Walnut Avenue (NewBraunfels)
Today Bexar County and its construction partners broke ground on a project expanding Loop 1604 to a four-lane divided highway between Randolph Air Force Base and I-10 on the east side of San Antonio. Meanwhile, in New Braunfels, utility companies are preparing to mobilize crews that will address conflicts with an upcoming expansion project on Walnut Avenue between Landa Street and Kerlick Lane.
Loop 1604
Bexar County provided the funds to make this important project happen, and they are managing the year-and-a-half of work. When the work is finished, TxDOT will buy the project from the county (so to speak) at a price that will be determined by a complex formula involving traffic counts and actual costs. Ordinarily, the purchase price for the state is around 80 percent the total cost of construction, which is $23.5 million.
This is a funding method called "pass-through financing", and it allows local contributions maximum leverage to get state funds dedicated to mobility projects. Comal County has successfully used the method a number of times, including on Highway 46 on the west side of New Braunfels.
Credit for the work to secure this funding goes to the Bexar County Commissioner's Court and the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization. They are the entities with control over transportation purse strings, and the elected officials on those councils worked hard to ensure this work happens.
Alright ... so on to the scope of the actual project....
The work will turn Loop 1604 into a four-lane divided highway between I-10 and Lower Seguin Road on the city's far east side. Basically, it'll match what we (TxDOT) built back in 2011 between FM 78 and Lower Seguin Road. Right now the road is a two-lane country road, carrying over 25,000 cars per day. We think the expansion of this roadway will serve each of our department goals of maintaining safety, addressing congestion and connecting Texas communities. How will it do that?
Walnut Avenue
Loop 1604
Bexar County provided the funds to make this important project happen, and they are managing the year-and-a-half of work. When the work is finished, TxDOT will buy the project from the county (so to speak) at a price that will be determined by a complex formula involving traffic counts and actual costs. Ordinarily, the purchase price for the state is around 80 percent the total cost of construction, which is $23.5 million.
This is a funding method called "pass-through financing", and it allows local contributions maximum leverage to get state funds dedicated to mobility projects. Comal County has successfully used the method a number of times, including on Highway 46 on the west side of New Braunfels.
Credit for the work to secure this funding goes to the Bexar County Commissioner's Court and the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization. They are the entities with control over transportation purse strings, and the elected officials on those councils worked hard to ensure this work happens.
Alright ... so on to the scope of the actual project....
The work will turn Loop 1604 into a four-lane divided highway between I-10 and Lower Seguin Road on the city's far east side. Basically, it'll match what we (TxDOT) built back in 2011 between FM 78 and Lower Seguin Road. Right now the road is a two-lane country road, carrying over 25,000 cars per day. We think the expansion of this roadway will serve each of our department goals of maintaining safety, addressing congestion and connecting Texas communities. How will it do that?
- Maintain a safe system Any time you seperate oncoming traffic from one another you are almost automatically improving safety. The risk of catastrophic head-on collisions is reduced to a minimum and a little extra wiggle room is given to protect us from others who can't seem to stay in their own lane.
- Address congestion Again ... we're adding capacity all the way on this. The new road has an added lane in each direction to carry traffic. Gone will be the days of getting stuck behind a piece of farm equipment going 30 miles per hour when you're running late; you should be able to cruise at the posted speed limit all the way through.
- Connect Texas communities Clearly this is an area that's growing, and the corridor is becoming increasingly important as bedroom communities in the county's eastern rural areas become more suburban. Though our 2012 numbers show the corridor supporting more than 25,000 cars per day, the same area only carried about 18,500 cars per day three years earlier. For those keeping score at home, that's an increase of more than 35 percent in just three years. Put another way, that's a bump of better than 10 percent each year. With a trend like that continuing, we could see use jump to more than 30,000 cars per day by 2015. We'd reach 50,000 cars per day by 2020. Not to mention it simply makes sense to have four lanes reaching from I-10 all the way around to U.S. Hwy 90 on the north side of San Antonio.
Walnut Avenue
We've been working for a few years now on the plan to widen Walnut Avenue "up the hill" in New Braunfels. Essentially, this effort will match the winding road to the rest of Walnut Avenue/Highway 46 on either side of it, including the center left-turn lane and the bike lanes and sidewalks. The total price tag is an estimated $12.6 million for work that will take a full year-and-a-half to complete.
Now, that's when we get started on the work. We received bids earlier this month and anticipate announcing a contractor late February or the first few days of March. Ordinarily, that would mean seeing construction activities as early as May or June.
This contract has a built-in delay that will push our start to this fall while utility crews (contracted by our friends at New Braunfels Utilities) work on getting all appropriate lines out of the way before work starts.
Now, the interesting portion of this project is between Grandview Avenue and Howard Street. Those who drive the area routinely know there's a large rock face on both sides of the road. In order to widen the road we have to add to or take away from a cliff face. We decided to add. We also decided to make things a little easier on ourselves by eliminating the left-turn lane on this stretch. Not much call for it anyway - there's nowhere to turn!
In order to accomplish this widening, we'll build what's called a "Mechanically Stabilized Earth" wall on the downhill side (south side, or along the eastbound side). This MSE wall is a really big retaining wall that will range between 20 and 35 feet tall from the bottom of the wall to the top of the
Initially I told you we were widening the road in both directions. I was partially correct; We’re expanding in both directions along the whole area, except for the cliff portion of the project. In that area we’re going to use a retaining wall to build up the needed expansion area on the downhill side, preserving the existing cliff face on the north side of the roadway. This will allow us to preserve the rock face on the uphill slope and do all our widening on the downhill slope.
The length of the MSE wall? about 2,200 feet; that's nearly half a mile!
Tuesday, February 11
Cold temps versus I-10 Huebner ... and a major future closure
Cold temperatures have forced Webber Construction to reschedule concrete work to built up retaining walls along the I-10 Huebner project, making excavation work the primary focus for crews on the project this week.
In fact, if weather cooperates the retaining wall near the westbound exit to Woodstone Drive will be done before the end of the month. That means dirt crews and road-builders will be free to move in and construct the additional lane to the ramp. The Woodstone ramp will be the only westbound exit getting traffic to DeZavala Road when the project is finished.
Again ... that's if weather cooperates.
The heaviest excavation is between DeZavala Road and UTSA Boulevard, where a detention system is being built and preparation for the reconstruction of the DeZavala overpass bridge is underway. The detention ponds are nearly complete, with the first system (two systems are being built) awaiting a final backfill and the second nearly excavated.
Preparation for the DeZavala overpass is the reason for the narrowed lanes and lack of median shoulder through the short stretch around the busy cross-street; overnight work to build the temporary detours to allow the reconstruction of the bridge is scheduled routinely for the upcoming weeks. Of course, warmer temperatures are needed for asphalt to be laid in place.
During that reconstruction, traffic will be pushed over onto one side of the bridge - onto the current westbound side first, then onto the current eastbound side. Three lanes will be maintained in each direction, and those lanes will be reduced to about 10 feet each lane. The narrowed lanes will, no doubt, require traffic to slow down a bit while passing through the area.
The narrowed and shifted lanes will stretch about 1,000 feet - less than a quarter of a mile. The work will take a full year to complete (six months for each side of the bridge) and is currently scheduled by Webber to begin this spring (a solid date isn't set yet).
In the meantime, the digging will continue. Retaining walls make up the bulk of taskwork between UTSA Boulevard and Huebner Road, with job site maintenance taking a prominent role while cold weather prevents concrete pours.
The big news
(Yes, we're saving the biggest news for last, to make sure you read the whole post....) At the end of this month Webber's project managers anticipate hanging beams for the new east-to-west turnaround bridge at UTSA Boulevard. This will require closing down the main lanes of I-10 overnight. We'll close down one direction at a time, with the likely scenario being (for instance) the eastbound side closed on a Friday night and the westbound side being closed on a Saturday night. Traffic would be diverted to the frontage road during these closures.
The target for this work is Feb. 28-Mar. 1 ... but that's a target. Weather and other factors may impact that target, but for now plan on seeing some major closures during that weekend.
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| Excavation on the westbound side near DeZavala Road has allowed for the construction of a detention pond system and preparatory work for the reconstruction of the DeZavala Road overpass. New retaining walls are also being built at this location. |
Again ... that's if weather cooperates.
The heaviest excavation is between DeZavala Road and UTSA Boulevard, where a detention system is being built and preparation for the reconstruction of the DeZavala overpass bridge is underway. The detention ponds are nearly complete, with the first system (two systems are being built) awaiting a final backfill and the second nearly excavated.
Preparation for the DeZavala overpass is the reason for the narrowed lanes and lack of median shoulder through the short stretch around the busy cross-street; overnight work to build the temporary detours to allow the reconstruction of the bridge is scheduled routinely for the upcoming weeks. Of course, warmer temperatures are needed for asphalt to be laid in place.
During that reconstruction, traffic will be pushed over onto one side of the bridge - onto the current westbound side first, then onto the current eastbound side. Three lanes will be maintained in each direction, and those lanes will be reduced to about 10 feet each lane. The narrowed lanes will, no doubt, require traffic to slow down a bit while passing through the area.
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| This stretch of I-1o between DeZavala Road and UTSA Boulevard is being prepared for the next major milestone - the reconstruction of the DeZavala Road overpass. Lanes will be shifted over and narrowed during that milestone, which is currently set to begin |
In the meantime, the digging will continue. Retaining walls make up the bulk of taskwork between UTSA Boulevard and Huebner Road, with job site maintenance taking a prominent role while cold weather prevents concrete pours.
The big news
(Yes, we're saving the biggest news for last, to make sure you read the whole post....) At the end of this month Webber's project managers anticipate hanging beams for the new east-to-west turnaround bridge at UTSA Boulevard. This will require closing down the main lanes of I-10 overnight. We'll close down one direction at a time, with the likely scenario being (for instance) the eastbound side closed on a Friday night and the westbound side being closed on a Saturday night. Traffic would be diverted to the frontage road during these closures.
The target for this work is Feb. 28-Mar. 1 ... but that's a target. Weather and other factors may impact that target, but for now plan on seeing some major closures during that weekend.
Wurzbach Parkway: lots of work along U.S. 281 (and some at West Ave., too)
The northbound entrance ramp from Nakoma Drive has been replaced with a temporary ramp nearer to Bitters Road, allowing Williams Brothers Construction to begin more aggressive work on adjustments to the U.S. 281 corridor near Wurabach Parkway.
That includes constructing braided ramps - that is, an exit ramp bridged over an entrance ramp - in the vicinity of the old entrance ramp. The braided ramp will serve traffic exiting to Bitters Road and traffic entering northbound U.S. 281 from Nakoma Drive and Wurzbach Parkway. Before the visible structures can be built there, though, trenching crews will finish the complex drain structures in the area. That should be finished in March.
Saturday morning, 6 a.m., bridge crews will close alternating lanes of West Avenue to pour the overpass bridge deck. Work will continue through the day; project managers anticipate clearing out of the work zone around 6 p.m. As long as nothing squirrely happens through the day, we'll keep one lane open in each direction.
Saturday's pour will complete half the overpass bridge. Next week's weather forecast will determine when the second half of the bridge gets poured; if it's warm enough, bridge builders will pour the second half overnight next week. If overnight temperatures are too cold (concrete work typically requires temperatures above 40 degrees) we'll have to push the second-half work to next Saturday.
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| The new temporary ramp for traffic coming from Nakoma onto the northbound U.S. 281 main lanes will allow work to progress quickly along this corridor. |
Saturday morning, 6 a.m., bridge crews will close alternating lanes of West Avenue to pour the overpass bridge deck. Work will continue through the day; project managers anticipate clearing out of the work zone around 6 p.m. As long as nothing squirrely happens through the day, we'll keep one lane open in each direction.
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| The West Avenue overpass bridge has been prepped for concrete. Alternating lanes of West Avenue will close Saturday while crews pour concrete on the first half of the bridge deck. |
As for the Blanco Road overpass ... It's still in Liberty Mutual's court (that is, the decision on when to open the overpass). That said, Texas Sterling reports pavement crews are scheduled to address the bridge deck surface issues in the upcoming weeks with the goal of opening the overpass in March.
Friday, February 7
Next week's construction-related closures
Over the next few weeks, the San Antonio Spurs aren't the only ones on the road; hundreds of thousands of drivers are taking to the road for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Because of the extra traffic, closures are extremely limited. That means we'll be working, but that work will be done (mostly) behind barrier and without major closures.
Interstate 10
Monday-Friday, February 10-14
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Eastbound main lanes between Loop 1604 and Fredericksburg Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close while crews set barrier.
Monday-Friday, February 10-14
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Westbound main lanes between Woodstone Drive and UTSA Boulevard (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close while crews set barrier.
Monday-Friday, February 10-14
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Eastbound frontage road between Huebner Road and UTSA Boulevard (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close to allow trucks hauling materials to safely enter and exit the roadway.
Monday-Friday, February 10-14
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Westbound frontage road between UTSA Boulevard and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close to allow trucks hauling materials to safely enter and exit the roadway.
Monday-Friday, February 10-14
9 a.m. until 3:30 a.m. daily
Eastbound frontage road between Huebner Road and UTSA Boulevard (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close to allow trucks hauling materials to safely enter and exit the roadway.
Monday-Friday, February 10-14
9 a.m. until 3:30 a.m. daily
Westbound frontage road between UTSA Boulevard and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close to allow trucks hauling materials to safely enter and exit the roadway.
Interstate 35
Sunday-Monday, February 9-10
9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Northbound frontage road between Windcrest Drive and Tradewind Drive (northeast San Antonio)
The left lane will close while crews stripe the roadway and place barrier to prepare for the next phase of work. This closure includes the entrance ramp to westbound I-410. Traffic will follow posted detour. Expect delays.
Sunday-Monday, February 9-10
9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Northbound main lanes between the eastbound I-410 exit and Randolph Boulevard (northeast San Antonio)
The left lane will close while crews move and reset barrier. This closure includes the exit ramp to Randolph Boulevard. Traffic will use Starlight Terrace exit and turn around. Expect delays.
Sunday-Friday, February 9-14
9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Northbound frontage road between Windcrest Drive and Tradewind Drive (northeast San Antonio)
The left lane will close while crews stripe the roadway and place barrier to prepare for the next phase of work. This closure includes the entrance ramp to westbound I-410. Traffic will follow posted detour. Expect delays.
Sunday-Monday, February 9-10
9 p.m. until 5 a.m.
Northbound main lanes between the eastbound I-410 exit and Randolph Boulevard (northeast San Antonio)
The left lane will close while crews move and reset barrier. This closure includes the exit ramp to Randolph Boulevard. Traffic will use Starlight Terrace exit and turn around. Expect delays.
Sunday-Friday, February 9-14
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Main lanes, both directions, between Loop 1604 and FM 1518 (Selma-Schertz)
The two left lanes will close while crews construct a center median barrier. Expect delays.
Interstate 37
No closures planned.
Interstate 410
No closures planned.
Loop 1604
Sunday-Saturday, February 9-15
9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily
Main lanes and access roads between Bandera and Culebra roads (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes – including shoulders – will close while crews survey and locate utilities.
U.S. Highway 90
No closures planned.
U.S. Highway 281
Saturday, February 8
6 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Northbound frontage road between Nakoma Drive and Bitters Road (north San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close while crews stripe the roadway preparatory for a minor traffic switch. Expect delays.
Monday-Wednesday, February 10-12
10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Northbound frontage road between Nakoma Drive and Bitters Road (north San Antonio)
The left two lanes will close while crews place barrier. The Bitters Road exit will close as part of this closure. Expect delays.
Monday-Wednesday, February 10-12
10 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Northbound main lanes between Nakoma Drive and Bitters Road (north San Antonio)
The right two lanes will close while crews place barrier. Expect delays.
Other roads
No closures planned.
All planned lane closures are pending weather.
Thursday, February 6
Closure scheduled for Old Ingram Loop (Ingram, TX)
In order to construct a storm sewer and related manholes, Relmco Construction will close the intersection of East Old Ingram Loop and state Highway 39 for two weeks beginning Feb. 10.
With the intersection blocked, traffic will use West Old Ingram Loop to reach the local shops and residences. The intersection is scheduled to reopen Feb. 24.
With the intersection blocked, traffic will use West Old Ingram Loop to reach the local shops and residences. The intersection is scheduled to reopen Feb. 24.
Construction along other portions of the project to expand Highway 39 to a four-lane divided highway continues to progress with drain systems being constructed and installed along the eastbound lanes of the road. Overall completion is targeted right now for early 2015.
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.
Monday, February 3
This week's construction-related closures
Sorry for the delayed post!
Interstate 10
Friday-Saturday, January 31-February 1
10 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly
Eastbound main lanes between Huebner Road and I-410 (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating, rolling lanes will close while crews stripe the roadway.
Monday-Friday, February 3-7
9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. daily
Frontage roads, both directions, between UTSA Boulevard and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close at various locations and in each directions to allow trucks to enter and exit the road.
Monday-Friday, February 3-7
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Frontage roads, both directions, between UTSA Boulevard and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close at various locations and in each directions to allow trucks to enter and exit the road.
Monday-Friday, February 3-7
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Main lanes, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Fredericksburg Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close in both directions while crews set barrier.
Interstate 35
Sunday-Friday, February 2-7
9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly
Main lanes, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Evans Road (Live Oak-Selma)
The left lanes will close in both directions while crews construct the center median and overhead highway sign structures.
Interstate 37
Sunday-Tuesday, February 2-4
9 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly
Main lanes, both directions, between Military Highway and Salado Creek (south Bexar County)
Alternating lanes will close while crews seal cracks in the road surface.
Interstate 410
Monday-Friday, February 3-7
9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily
Main lanes, both directions, at the Marbach Road overpass (west San Antonio)
Alternating lanes will close in both directions while crews bore for test samples. Expect delays.
Loop 1604
Monday-Saturday, February 3-8
9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily
Main lanes and access roads, both directions, between Bandera Road and Culebra Road (northwest San Antonio)
Alternating lanes, including the shoulders, will close in both directions while crews survey the roadway. Expect delays.
U.S. Highway 90
No closures scheduled.
U.S. Highway 281
No closures scheduled.
Other roads
No closures scheduled.
All planned lane closures are pending weather.