Mail Bag: mowing, closures and more

Thanks to your input, we've scrapped the idea of going with a new format on our weekly lane closures and we'll return to our original format full-time. That is, closures are separated by highway, with planned closures listed chronologically by start date within each heading. Regional locations are found in parentheses in the closure information.

More than 90 percent of our respondents asked for us to return to the "old way", and that's exactly what we're doing. THANK YOU to those who provided input and helped us keep this the most effective resource for you we can make.

With that aside, let's get on to this week's (overdue!) Mail Bag:

Are there road construction-related closures on I-10 between Houston and San Antonio during the day?
- Marilinda

Though we pride ourselves on being "OneDOT" within the department (that is, we're all the same TxDOT), each district is pretty limited to a specific geographic area. This route crosses three different districts, which means you're relying on three different resources for answers here.

That said, we've tried to centralize some of that information. You should be able to find major closure information state-wide on our DriveTexas.org mobile site (do not use this while actually driving - let a passenger use it, or pull to the side of the road to use it). You'll find anything that's out of the ordinary posted there, listed and located on a handy little map. It's pretty great, actually. Any time you're traveling across this great state, you'll want to make this a part of your trip planning!

Please know, however, we don't often have closures during the day on major interstates like I-10, I-35, I-20, etc. That's just a state-wide best practice. If we have an emergency closure (like we had in Gonzalez County a couple of weeks ago), that's a bit different. But in general, we'll keep away from closures on these highways during the day.

When will the mowing be completed on Loop 1604 between Bandera and I-10?
- Zane

This is a common question all over the place, not just along Loop 1604. Routinely, TxDOT mows two times per year. The department also performs safety mowing as needed at intersections, driveways and on the inside of curves. Mowing in active construction zones may be done more often - as needed - depending on the construction contract requirements.

The first mowing cycle typically begins in mid-May to June 1 to allow wildflowers to seed. The start date is dependent on the local growing season. With the unprecedented rainfall in Texas in May, TxDOT has had difficulty getting mowing started because the roadside ditches are too wet. Mowing wet ditches is destructive and slow. The excessive rain has also prompted faster growth of vegetation and that growth will last a longer period. Mowing is now underway across the state and it will take time to get caught up.

Unfortunately, we don't have an exact schedule for all locations. We're hitting priority locations first, then moving to areas where the grass has become an eyesore. Please know we're aware of the areas that have need, and we're getting to it as quickly as we can.

By the way, the reason mowing was done from Culebra to Hausman(ish) is because that's done by a construction contractor with crews on that location all the time. Their construction limits don't reach further, so they won't mow beyond the area they've already mowed.

I was looking at the expansion of UTSA Boulevard and am off Hausman, is there any plans for a road from Hausman to UTSA more towards I-10? Like the JV Bacon road to Babcock, it would be a great addition for all the subdivisions over here. When all the work is done, it will look great, thanks for all you do.
- Eva

This idea is something we hear about from time to time - a connector between UTSA Blvd and Hausman Rd - but it's not something TxDOT would do. If this were something that would happen, that would be through the city of San Antonio.

The expansion of UTSA Boulevard is in full swing now, however. Just two weeks ago we got word from utilities companies that still had some moving to do that we were clear to proceed with our work.

For those not familiar with this project, we are expanding UTSA Boulevard (we call it Spur 53) to a five-lane road. That's two lanes each way plus a center left-turn lane. We're adding some space for those hiking or biking or jogging, plus a shoulder area. The project will take about two years to complete. The $9 million project is being built by a new-to-us contractor, SMC Contractors. They've been around, but they've not worked with us in the San Antonio area before.

The first bunch of work you can expect, Eva, will be on the south side of the road (eastbound side). Closures on this road shouldn't get kicked up until mid-July.

I hear you are now saying the Wurzbach Parkway won't be finished until the end of the year. I just want to know when the bike trail opens completely.
- Tony

Tony, where are you hearing that from? We've been trying to remain consistent in our message here. The contractor has until the end of the year to finish work on the project. However, we fully anticipate the work will finish much sooner - likely late this summer, as long as we can get some days with the sun out and the rain ... well, not out.

The bike trail that will effectively connect Hardberger Park with the rest of Salado Creek Greenway will open with the roadway. Until we're done with the road work, that area is still an active construction project and riding along the trail is discouraged and dangerous.

Fred-Med thru lanes open; more on that project

Fred-Med

As of 9:45 this morning, the through lanes on Medical Drive running under Fredericksburg Road. This is the culmination of nearly two decades of work as folks with the South Texas Medical Center Foundation to get this potentially life-saving intersection improvement finished.

The first official vehicle to use the new through lanes of Medical Drive at Fredericksburg Road was this San Antonio Fire Department ambulance, which ran through ceremoniously with lights going. Within a half hour of this, normal traffic was moving through.

The project's intent is to provide free-flowing through lanes on Medical Drive, getting through the busy intersection of Fredericksburg Road. This should reduce travel time from I-10 to hospital facilities along Medical Drive by as much as 60 seconds in emergency situations.

While the through lanes are finished, crews still have work remaining on the overall intersection. Most of that work is electrical work, being done by a subcontractors. This work includes some fixes for the issues folks are seeing with the traffic signals on the surface level of the intersection.

Expect to see crews working around-the-clock, though not with the same intensity you've seen in previous weeks, to finish project items like sidewalk and curb work. Overnight work through this week will allow striping crews to finish the striping on the new road lanes (right now we have reflective lane marking tabs). Texas Sterling Construction also has some landscaping work left, and that will be the last bit of work to be finished.

Since we've had a couple of questions related to the Fred-Med project hit our mailbag, it just seems appropriate to answer them here....

The Fred-Med project looks like a great, unique solution to the traffic in that area. Are there plans to employ a similar solution elsewhere in the area?

-Bill

 

In short, not right now. Though if there are some locations something like this would make sense, we'd certainly be up for it. Keep in mind that, after all the right-of-way was acquired and the project was finished out, this endeavor cost around $20 million. There's a lot we could do with $20 million....

I don't know if you guys are still reconsidering the placement of the signals at Fred-Med, but if you are or if you do in the future, may I suggest going with mast arms adjusted to be positioned closer to the center of the intersection so turning traffic doesn't stop in the middle and clog up traffic?
- Brian

Right now we have a series of fixes for the issue you're describing. Yes, people are still turning left onto Fredericksburg Road and stopping mid-intersection. They shouldn't be, but they are. We've got louvers planned to be placed in the signal, and those are designed to restrict visibility to where only traffic intended to be controlled by those signals can see them (or see the light color). If that doesn't work, our partners with the city of San Antonio have suggested mounting some signals on the pedestrian poles - a slightly more expensive fix, but something that's doable.

If THAT doesn't do the trick, we'll need to look into something a little more expensive. That may include a set-up similar to what you're suggesting, with a truss spanning the intersection and holding the signals for the whole shebang. That's not done anywhere else around town, but this is a fairly unique intersection as it is....

Next week's construction-related closures

No closures will happen for construction projects July 3-6, inclusive.
 
I-10

• Tuesday, June 23-Thursday, July 2. Eastbound frontage road between Cincinnati and Culebra roads (downtown). The left lane will close while crews do bridge work.
• Friday-Monday, June 26-29. 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. continuous. Westbound main lanes between Huebner Road and UTSA Boulevard (northwest San Antonio). The right lanes will close while crews remove and replace asphalt to repair the road. The two left lanes will remain open through the weekend. No ramps are planned to be closed for this work.
• Saturday, June 27. 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Eastbound main lanes between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the road.
• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly. Frontage road, both directions between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between Huebner Road and Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the roadway and work on overhead highway signs.
• Sunday-Wednesday, June 28-July 1. 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Westbound main lanes between Roland Avenue and Pine Street (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews lay asphalt.
• Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Frontage road, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2. 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. Main lanes, both directions, at Ralph Fair Road (Fair Oaks Ranch). Alternating lanes will close while crews do finish work on the Ralph Fair Road bridge.
• Tuesday-Thursday, June 30-July 2. 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Eastbound main lanes between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the road.

I-35

• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Northbound main lanes at Randolph Boulevard (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews set barrier and drill bridge support foundations. This closure includes the Randolph Boulevard exit ramp from eastbound I-410.
• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between Eisenhauer and Rittiman roads (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes, two at a time, will close while crews to bridge work.
• Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2. 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews work on bridge support structures.
• Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews work on bridge support structures.

I-410

• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Eastbound connector to northbound I-35 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews do road work.

U.S. Hwy 281

• Saturday, June 27. 5 a.m. until 3 p.m. Northbound main lanes at Nakoma Drive (north-central San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews pour concrete on the Nakoma Drive turnaround bridge. Traffic will exit Nakoma Drive, pass through the intersection and re-enter the highway.

State Hwy 151

• Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Main lanes, both directions, between Weisman and Callahan roads (northwest San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews construct the cable median barrier.

Loop 1604

• Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Main lanes, both directions, between Bandera and Culebra roads (northwest San Antonio). The right lane will close in various locations, as needed, while crews do concrete work.
• Saturday, July 11. 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Main lanes, both directions, between Braun and Culebra roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the roadway and shift all traffic onto the new frontage roads. Drivers should be aware of the change in posted speed limit to 40 miles per hour. This work was originally scheduled for June 27.

Kendall County

• Tuesday-Thursday, June 30-July 2. 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly. Hwy 46, both directions, between City Park Road and Ammann Road (Boerne). Alternating lanes will close while crews place seal coat and asphalt.

Comal County

• Monday-Thursday, June 29-July 2. 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. Farm-to-Market 306 at the Guadalupe River crossing (Canyon Lake). The highway will be reduced to one-way traffic control with flaggers controlling traffic while crews work on the bridge rail.

Other roads

• Monday, June 8-Sunday, July 12. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604. All lanes will close while crews hang bridge deck panels. Eastbound traffic will travel south on Loop 1604 and turn around after Shaenfield Road to reach northbound Loop 1604. Westbound traffic will travel north on Loop 1604 and turn around at Bandera Road to reach southbound Loop 1604.
• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Westbound Eisenhauer Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work. Traffic will use the I-35 frontage road to the next intersection and turn around to reach its destination.
• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Eastbound Eisenhauer Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work.
• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Westbound Rittiman Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work. Traffic will use the I-35 frontage road to the next intersection and turn around to reach its destination.
• Sunday-Thursday, June 28-July 2. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Eastbound Rittiman Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work.
• Sunday-Friday, June 28-July 3. 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• Sunday-Friday, June 28-July 3. 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.

All closures are pending weather.

Comal County roundup

We've got some stuff happening in the New Braunfels area, but it's best to show rather than just tell. Take a look:

This week's construction-related closures

First of all ... thank you for your input! An overwhelming 92.3 percent of you said you wanted us to go back to the original format of these closure postings and list these by highway/location. So, here you go! Also, note that closures beyond San Antonio/Bexar County are being listed by county moving forward. This should help everyone involved identify the closures most likely to pertain to them.

Apologies for the late post, though. We were out of the office Friday, and couldn't get this done in time to post for Friday.

As for Mailbag ... expect to see that again NEXT week.

I-10

• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly. Frontage road, both directions between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between Huebner Road and Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the roadway and work on overhead highway signs.
• Monday-Friday, June 22-26. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Frontage road, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• Monday-Wednesday, June 22-24. 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, at Foster Road (east Bexar County). The main lanes will close, one side at a time, while crews repair damaged conduit and cable systems. Westbound lanes will close first; then eastbound lanes. Traffic in the affected direction will exit Foster Road, continue through the intersection, then re-enter the highway.
• Tuesday, June 23-Thursday, July 2. Eastbound frontage road between Cincinnati and Culebra roads (downtown). The left lane will close while crews do bridge work.
• Friday-Monday, June 26-29. 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. continuous. Westbound main lanes between Huebner Road and UTSA Boulevard (northwest San Antonio). The right lanes will close while crews remove and replace asphalt to repair the road. The two left lanes will remain open through the weekend. No ramps are planned to be closed for this work.

I-35

• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Northbound main lanes at Randolph Boulevard (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews set barrier and drill bridge support foundations. This closure includes the Randolph Boulevard exit ramp from eastbound I-410.
• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between Eisenhauer and Rittiman roads (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes, two at a time, will close while crews to bridge work.
• Monday-Friday, June 22-25. 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews work on bridge support structures.
• Monday-Friday, June 22-25. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews work on bridge support structures.
• Monday-Friday, June 22-25. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between AT&T Parkway and Binz-Engleman (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close, two at a time, while crews restripe the roadway.
• Monday-Tuesday, June 22-23. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Main lanes, both directions, at the U.S. 281/I-37 interchange (downtown San Antonio). The right lane and shoulder in each direction will close while crews cover signs. This closure includes the ramp from I-35 to southbound U.S. 281/I-37. Traffic will use northbound U.S. 281 and turn around at next available intersection to reach its destination.

I-410

• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Eastbound connector to northbound I-35 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews do road work.

U.S. Hwy 281

• Monday-Thursday, June 22-25. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, at Nakoma Drive (north-central San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews pour concrete for the Nakoma Drive turnaround bridge. Traffic will exit Nakoma Drive, pass through the intersection, then re-enter the highway.

State Hwy 151

• Monday-Saturday, June 22-27. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Main lanes, both directions, between Weisman and Callahan roads (northwest San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews construct the cable median barrier.

Loop 1604

• Monday-Sunday, June 22-28. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Main lanes, both directions, between Bandera and Culebra roads (northwest San Antonio). The right lane will close in various locations, as needed, while crews do concrete work.
• Saturday, June 27. 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Main lanes, both directions, between Braun and Culebra roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the roadway and shift all traffic onto the new frontage roads. Drivers should be aware of the change in posted speed limit to 40 miles per hour.

Kendall County

• Tuesday-Friday, June 23-26. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Hwy 46, both directions, between City Park Road and Ammann Road (Boerne). Alternating lanes will close while crews place seal coat and asphalt.

Comal County

• Monday-Friday, June 22-26. 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. Farm-to-Market 306 at the Guadalupe River crossing (Canyon Lake). The highway will be reduced to one-way traffic control with flaggers controlling traffic while crews work on the bridge rail.
• Wednesday-Thursday, June 24-25. 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Farm-to-Market 306, both directions, between Goodwin Lane and Common Street (New Braunfels). Alternating lanes will close while crews shift traffic on the Goodwin Lane UPRR overpass bridge. Traffic will remain one lane in each direction when the shift is complete.

Other roads

• Monday, June 8-Sunday, July 12. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604. All lanes will close while crews hang bridge deck panels. Eastbound traffic will travel south on Loop 1604 and turn around after Shaenfield Road to reach northbound Loop 1604. Westbound traffic will travel north on Loop 1604 and turn around at Bandera Road to reach southbound Loop 1604.
• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Westbound Eisenhauer Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work. Traffic will use the I-35 frontage road to the next intersection and turn around to reach its destination.
• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Eastbound Eisenhauer Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work.
• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Westbound Rittiman Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work. Traffic will use the I-35 frontage road to the next intersection and turn around to reach its destination.
• Sunday-Friday, June 21-26. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Eastbound Rittiman Road at I-35 (east San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews move barrier and do bridge work.
• Monday-Saturday, June 21-27. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Texas Highway 16, both directions, between Smith Road and the Atascosa County Line (south Bexar County). The left lane will close while crews install cable median barrier.
• Sunday-Sunday, June 21-28. 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• Sunday-Sunday, June 21-28. 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work. 

All closures are pending weather.

Projects around San Antonio

Apologies in advance for not doing one post for each of these projects, but we have brief - brief - updates for a number of projects. Here ... we ... go....

Fred-Med
The grade separation project at the intersection of Fredericksburg Road and Medical Drive is at the point we're now only days from being finished with the project. We are working with some of our civic leaders to schedule a ceremony to open it up.

Weather has impacted us over the last six weeks, for sure. We've discovered an off-site water leak (now addressed) that will require crews to repair some sidewalk on Medical Drive. We've had some difficulty getting the new signal arms installed properly. Through it all, we're finally ready to have this opened up.

Between now and then, however, expect overnight closures through the area while crews lay asphalt. Daytime work is mostly on aesthetic portions of the project at this point. Either way, the work is at a feverish  pace right now as crews try to wrap things up.

Once we open the new through lanes of Medical Drive, expect to see work continue for the next few weeks while finishing touches are completed.

Wurzbach Parkway
It's been suggested this project progress has slowed to a crawl ...  the truth is the heaviest work is being done at night (requiring closures like last night and tonight on U.S. 281) while crews are doing what they can during the day.

Crews are trying to finish the turnarounds at Nakoma and have them operational in July. Meanwhile, work on the new northbound exit to Bitters continues to progress, as does work on the new northbound entrance ramp from Nakoma (under the exit to Bitters).

Williams Brothers Construction is the contractor out there, and they've also got work on Loop 1604 and will soon have work elsewhere in the city. Much of the work upcoming will likely require the attention of crews now on Wurzbach. Look for those crews to finish what's left on Wurzbach up this summer to be ready for work in other locations.

The short-short story: We're on pace to have the parkway finished by the end of summer. That said, the contract allows until the end of the year.

Loop 1604 Northwest

A picture is worth 1,000 words, and a video is worth more than that. Above is a look at what's happening along Loop 16o4, including a detailed response to JDH's question from this week's Mailbag post.


UTSA Boulevard
We got a notice to proceed letter, and will be able to start construction - for realsies this time - on the UTSA Boulevard project. Utility conflicts kept us from starting work in April, when we had wanted to start. Now those conflicts are reported as moved, and work will begin June 22. The first phase of work is on the eastbound side of the road, but expect to see construction on both sides of the road for the first little while.

This project will last two full years.

Mail Bag: potholes, I-10, Wurzbach Parkway, Lp 1604, new subscribe feature

Before we delve into this week's Mail Bag, let us know what you think about the new lane closures format. After all, this blog and its posts are for you and we want to do things in a format suited best for you.

Also, the wet weather we were pummeled by over the weekend (and that's headed our way this week) has a number of consequences. This includes a proliferation of potholes. We're doing what we can to fix the potholes we know about and get to those we hear about from you. The key to avoiding these potholes while you drive, by the way, is to increase your following distance to the recommended 3-plus seconds. This allows enough visual space for a driver to identify normal road hazards, like potholes, and avoid them safely and effectively.

Well, that addresses some comments and questions we've already had in mass since the weekend. Here's a look at a few more specific questions:

The other day I was driving on the WurzbachParkway between Jones-Maltsberger and Thousand Oaks. The new section is fantastic, but I noticed one thing which strikes me as odd - when I got on the highway from Jones-Maltsberger going eastbound, the speed limit is 45 MPH. After Wetmore Road, it goes up to 60. In my unprofessional opinion, the new section is too wide and feels way too slow for the posted 45 MPH. I feel you can definitely drive 60 on it. So my question to you is this: Is the 45 MPH speed limit temporary (until construction ends) or is it permanent? Thanks!
- Mike

It's a good thing most TxDOT vehicles come with cruise control so we can set our speed and be worry free from the temptation of doing 60 MPH on this road!

There are two speeds here - the design speed and the speed that is eventually set through use of speed studies. Because of the inclusion of curbs and sidewalks along the parkway, the design speed is 45 miles per hour. That speed limit can be changed with a speed study and requests from the local municipality. There's a whole process and handbook for stuff like that, if you'd like to go through it all.

The bottom line: expect that 45 MPH speed limit sign to stay where it is (by the way, it's posted at 45 MPH on the west end of the Parkway, between Blanco and West Avenue, also). We'll also be posting 45 MPH signs between West Avenue and Jones-Maltsberger, including the overpass over U.S. 281. Because these are black-and-white signs, they're regulatory. That means our friends with San Antonio Police Department can offer reminders of the posted speed should you be going a little faster. I understand those reminders come only with a fee....

In regards to Braun/1604 overpass - I'm hoping that there are plans to add an additional left-hand turning lane to allow more traffic to get onto 1604 coming from outside the loop. It could really use it. During the school year it can take 5-6 lights cycles to get onto the freeway ... I realize that the project won't be complete until 2016 but it seems like adding another turn lane is something that could be implemented now to reduce some of the pain. Any chances on accelerating this?

- JDH

JDH! Code names ... feels like we're communicating incognito....

The current plan sheets show a single left-turn lane in each direction with an optional straight/left lane for your direction (eastbound Braun Road to northbound Loop 1604). We'll also have a third lane going through at that location. That configuration (straight, optional, left) won't be in place in full until the project nears completion next year.

This shows the final configuration of Braun Road at Loop 1604 when the expansion is finished next year.

Making the adjustment sooner may require some out-of-sequence work on the traffic signals, which may not be ready (we would have to order new components) for quite a while. That said, we can work with the contractor to accelerate the make the optional straight/left lane happen sooner than later.

We recently opened a new campus on Leslie right before Shaenfield. Needless to say this construction is affecting us greatly so I appreciate the updates to help us anticipate and plan. Would it be possible for you to add a feature where I could subscribe to these updates by email so new posts are delivered to my email? Thanks!
- Jamye

You know, that's a darned good idea. There are several options for subscribing (Google+, feed readers, etc.), but if you look to the left of the screen you'll see we just added a subscription option. This will get you an automated email every time we post.

You'll also see that we've added a "share" widget under the blog posts. If you'd like to share a post using your organization's (or personal) Facebook page or Twitter feed (or Google+, Pinterest, email, etc.), you'll find a small strip of icons at the bottom of each post that allows for an easy share.

Great idea, Jamye. Thanks for helping us evolve and develop this blog a bit! If there were such a thing as a "get out of traffic free" card, we'd be sending you one.

Wow, things have really slowed to a crawl on the construction side of things with Wurzbach Parkway. And no updates on here, either. What's the status?

- Michael

The Wurzbach Parkway project is still on pace to finish this summer - well ahead of the end-of-year deadline on our contract. Most of the work is focused along U.S. 281. Tuesdays are our project meeting days, and we'll get on over there to get you an update this week (this project meets the same time as the I-10 Huebner project, so we have to make a choice each week on which to go to).

A stop sign was just installed at the intersection of W. Hausman Rd. and the eastbound I-10 frontage road (near the Land Rover dealership) on either June 5 or 6. A couple years ago this location was converted from a "T" intersection with a stop sign to more of a curved divisional island intersection without a stop sign in order to improve the flow of traffic. Why was a stop sign reinstalled here after not existing for years? Also, many drivers are completely ignoring the stop sign--maybe because they don't know it is there. How come an Advance Traffic Control sign (W3-1) and a NEW sign (W16-15P) were not installed?

- Matt

Matt, two things. First of all, you've got an obvious extensive understanding of our Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices - kudos!

Second, that stop sign is part of the Hausman Road project operated by the city of San Antonio. The Transportation and Capital Improvements group there will have more information than we will.

The light at Dezavala and the Eastbound side of the I-10 frontage road has issues. The green light cycle only lasts long enough for about 4 cars to get through. As a result, the traffic backs up onto the frontage road. This Saturday, it took me 5 cycles to get through! I feel like the green light cycles on other sides of this intersection are longer. What can I do (i.e., who can I email or call) to help fix this?

- Lauren

Lauren, this is an issue we've noticed as well. We think it was an issue with a sensor that was pointed in the wrong direction - we've got that solved. If it's a timing issue, that's something handled by the city of San Antonio. Most lights across the city - even on our roads - are controlled by them. Sure, we build them and upgrade them if needed ... but they maintain the timing and so forth.

To put your mind at ease, we're in constant contact with the right folks with the city to be sure we're watching the timing at this location to be sure it's running optimally.

Next week's construction-related closures

New format - listed chronologically rather than by highway. Let us know what you think about the new way through this nifty survey here.

Saturday, 13 June

• 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Eastbound I-10 main lanes between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). The right lane will close while crews remove barrier and restripe the road. This closure includes a temporary closure of the entrance ramp from Pine Street in the evening. Traffic will use the next available ramp.

Sunday, 14 June

• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Loop 1604, both directions, at intersections of New Guilbeau and Shaenfield roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews install traffic signals.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Monday. I-10 frontage road, both directions between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Monday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between Huebner Road and Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the roadway and work on overhead highway signs.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Monday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the road. This closure includes temporary closures of entrance and exit ramps – one at a time – as needed.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between AT&T Parkway and Binz-Engleman (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews set barrier and restripe the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews move barrier and restripe the road.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. I-35 frontage roads, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Eastbound I-410 connector to northbound I-35 (Windcrest). The exit will close as needed while crews repair crash cushions. Traffic will exit Thousand Oaks, turn around, and proceed on the southbound frontage road to Randolph Boulevard to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Monday. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrails.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Eastbound I-410 ramp to southbound I-35 (Windcrest). The ramp will close while crews do road work. Traffic will take the connector to northbound I-35 and turn around at Wiedner to reach southbound I-35.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Monday. Randolph Boulevard between I-35 and the VIA park and ride (Windcrest). The road will be one-way (controlled by police officer) while crews do bridge work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Rittiman Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the southbound frontage road and turn around at Eisenhauer Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Rittiman Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Eisenhauer Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the northbound frontage road and turn around at Walzem Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Eisenhauer Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.

Monday, 15 June

• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. I-10 frontage road, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I-10 main lanes, both directions, at Ralph Fair Road (Leon Springs area). Alternating lanes will close while crews do finish work on the Ralph Fair Road overpass bridge.
• 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrail.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, southbound, at Fratt Road (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Loop 1604, both directions, at intersections of New Guilbeau and Shaenfield roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews install traffic signals.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. I-10 frontage road, both directions between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between Huebner Road and Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the roadway and work on overhead highway signs.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the road. This closure includes temporary closures of entrance and exit ramps – one at a time – as needed.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. I-35 main lanes, southbound, at U.S. 281 intersection (downtown). The right lane will close while crews work on the center median barrier.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between AT&T Parkway and Binz-Engleman (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews set barrier and restripe the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews move barrier and restripe the road.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. I-35 frontage roads, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Eastbound I-410 connector to northbound I-35 (Windcrest). The exit will close as needed while crews repair crash cushions. Traffic will exit Thousand Oaks, turn around, and proceed on the southbound frontage road to Randolph Boulevard to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrails.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Eastbound I-410 ramp to southbound I-35 (Windcrest). The ramp will close while crews do road work. Traffic will take the connector to northbound I-35 and turn around at Wiedner to reach southbound I-35.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. U.S. 281 main lanes, southbound, at Nakoma Drive (north-central San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work on the Nakoma Drive turnaround. Traffic will exit Nakoma Drive, pass through the intersection, and re-enter the highway.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Tuesday. Randolph Boulevard between I-35 and the VIA park and ride (Windcrest). The road will be one-way (controlled by police officer) while crews do bridge work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Rittiman Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the southbound frontage road and turn around at Eisenhauer Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Rittiman Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Eisenhauer Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the northbound frontage road and turn around at Walzem Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Eisenhauer Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Tuesday. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

Tuesday, 16 June

• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. I-10 frontage road, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I-10 main lanes, both directions, at Ralph Fair Road (Leon Springs area). Alternating lanes will close while crews do finish work on the Ralph Fair Road overpass bridge.
• 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrail.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, southbound, at Fratt Road (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Loop 1604, both directions, at intersections of New Guilbeau and Shaenfield roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews install traffic signals.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. I-10 frontage road, both directions between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between Huebner Road and Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the roadway and work on overhead highway signs.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the road. This closure includes temporary closures of entrance and exit ramps – one at a time – as needed.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between AT&T Parkway and Binz-Engleman (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews set barrier and restripe the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews move barrier and restripe the road.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. I-35 frontage roads, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Eastbound I-410 connector to northbound I-35 (Windcrest). The exit will close as needed while crews repair crash cushions. Traffic will exit Thousand Oaks, turn around, and proceed on the southbound frontage road to Randolph Boulevard to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrails.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Eastbound I-410 ramp to southbound I-35 (Windcrest). The ramp will close while crews do road work. Traffic will take the connector to northbound I-35 and turn around at Wiedner to reach southbound I-35.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. U.S. 281 main lanes, northbound, at Nakoma Drive (north-central San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work on the Nakoma Drive turnaround bridge. Traffic will exit Nakoma Drive, pass through the intersection, and re-enter the highway.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. Randolph Boulevard between I-35 and the VIA park and ride (Windcrest). The road will be one-way (controlled by police officer) while crews do bridge work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Rittiman Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the southbound frontage road and turn around at Eisenhauer Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Rittiman Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Eisenhauer Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the northbound frontage road and turn around at Walzem Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Eisenhauer Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

Wednesday, 17 June

• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. I-10 frontage road, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I-10 main lanes, both directions, at Ralph Fair Road (Leon Springs area). Alternating lanes will close while crews do finish work on the Ralph Fair Road overpass bridge.
• 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrail.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, southbound, at Fratt Road (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Loop 1604, both directions, at intersections of New Guilbeau and Shaenfield roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews install traffic signals.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Thursday. I-10 frontage road, both directions between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Thursday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between Huebner Road and Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the roadway and work on overhead highway signs.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Thursday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the road. This closure includes temporary closures of entrance and exit ramps – one at a time – as needed.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between AT&T Parkway and Binz-Engleman (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews set barrier and restripe the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews move barrier and restripe the road.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. I-35 frontage roads, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Eastbound I-410 connector to northbound I-35 (Windcrest). The exit will close as needed while crews repair crash cushions. Traffic will exit Thousand Oaks, turn around, and proceed on the southbound frontage road to Randolph Boulevard to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Thursday. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrails.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Eastbound I-410 ramp to southbound I-35 (Windcrest). The ramp will close while crews do road work. Traffic will take the connector to northbound I-35 and turn around at Wiedner to reach southbound I-35.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. U.S. 281 frontage road, northbound, between Nakoma Drive and Bitters Road (north-central San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work on the Wurzbach Parkway overpass. Traffic will use Nakoma Drive, Jones Maltsberger and Bitters Road to reach its destination. This closure includes the northbound exit to Bitters Road. Traffic will take the next available exit and turn around.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Thursday. Randolph Boulevard between I-35 and the VIA park and ride (Windcrest). The road will be one-way (controlled by police officer) while crews do bridge work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Rittiman Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the southbound frontage road and turn around at Eisenhauer Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Rittiman Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Eisenhauer Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the northbound frontage road and turn around at Walzem Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Eisenhauer Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Thursday. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

Thursday, 18 June

• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. I-10 frontage road, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I-10 main lanes, both directions, at Ralph Fair Road (Leon Springs area). Alternating lanes will close while crews do finish work on the Ralph Fair Road overpass bridge.
• 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrail.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, southbound, at Fratt Road (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Loop 1604, both directions, at intersections of New Guilbeau and Shaenfield roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews install traffic signals.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Friday. I-10 frontage road, both directions between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 8:30 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Friday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between Huebner Road and Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the roadway and work on overhead highway signs.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Friday. I-10 main lanes, both directions, between I-37 and Roland Avenue (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repave the road. This closure includes temporary closures of entrance and exit ramps – one at a time – as needed.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between AT&T Parkway and Binz-Engleman (east San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews set barrier and restripe the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. I-35 main lanes, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews move barrier and restripe the road.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. I-35 frontage roads, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Eastbound I-410 connector to northbound I-35 (Windcrest). The exit will close as needed while crews repair crash cushions. Traffic will exit Thousand Oaks, turn around, and proceed on the southbound frontage road to Randolph Boulevard to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Friday. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrails.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Eastbound I-410 ramp to southbound I-35 (Windcrest). The ramp will close while crews do road work. Traffic will take the connector to northbound I-35 and turn around at Wiedner to reach southbound I-35.
• 9 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Friday. Randolph Boulevard between I-35 and the VIA park and ride (Windcrest). The road will be one-way (controlled by police officer) while crews do bridge work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Rittiman Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the southbound frontage road and turn around at Eisenhauer Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Rittiman Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Eisenhauer Road, westbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead. Traffic will use the northbound frontage road and turn around at Walzem Road to reach its destination.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Eisenhauer Road, eastbound, at I-35 (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews work on bridge structures overhead.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Friday. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

Friday, 19 June

• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. I-10 frontage road, both directions, between Loop 1604 and Huebner Road (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close for road work.
• 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. I-10 main lanes, both directions, at Ralph Fair Road (Leon Springs area). Alternating lanes will close while crews do finish work on the Ralph Fair Road overpass bridge.
• 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. I-35 turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek (east San Antonio). The turnarounds will close while crews build bridge support structures.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Northbound I-35 connector to westbound I-410 (Windcrest). The right lane will close while crews work on guardrail.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, southbound, at Fratt Road (northeast San Antonio). The left lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. I-35 frontage road, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews repair the roadway.
• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Loop 1604, both directions, at intersections of New Guilbeau and Shaenfield roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews install traffic signals.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Saturday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Saturday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Saturday. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

Saturday, 20 June

• 3 a.m. until 3 p.m. U.S. 281 main lanes, southbound, at Nakoma Drive (north-central San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews pour concrete to form the Nakoma Drive turnaround bridge. Traffic will exit Nakoma Drive, pass through the intersection, and re-enter the highway.
• 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Loop 1604, both directions, at intersections of New Guilbeau and Shaenfield roads (northwest San Antonio). Alternating lanes will close while crews install traffic signals.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Sunday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Sunday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Sunday. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

Sunday, 21 June

• 3 a.m. until noon. I-35 main lanes, southbound, between Eisenhauer Road and George Beach (northeast San Antonio). Alternating lanes – two at a time – will close while crews work on overhead highway signs. This may require brief periods of time with all lanes closed. Traffic will exit, use the frontage road and re-enter the highway in the event of these temporary full closures.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Fredericksburg Road, both directions, between Louis Pasteur and Data Point (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do roadwork.
• 7 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Medical Drive, both directions, between Ewing Halsell and Fairhaven Street (Medical Center). Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

Beyond

• June 22-26, 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., daily. I-10 main lanes, both directions, at Ralph Fair Road (Leon Springs area). Alternating lanes will close while crews paint the Ralph Fair Road overpass bridge and do finish work. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane each direction.
• Through July 12, 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., nightly. Braun Road, both directions, at Loop 1604 (northwest San Antonio). All lanes will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and use the next available turnaround to reach its destination.

All closures are pending weather.

Vlog entry: latest on I-10 Leon Springs

Rather than write a whole bunch, here's a video to show you what's going on at I-10 in the Leon Springs area. Forgive the editing - it's our first time playing with the Splice video editing application....

I-35 SAMMC

To be honest, the last post dedicated specifically to the I-35 SAMMC project may well have been read by Sam Houston himself. The dearth of dedicated posts comes simply from a backlog of other stuff and a running project status that can be summed up by simply saying, "it's still going on, and we're still on target to finish the end of 2016."

That said, there's some major stuff that's quietly gone on with the I-35 SAMMC project, and it's time we give this project some appropriate attention. Please, accept our apologies for the blog silence!

Traffic switches

If you're on northbound I-410 and connecting to northbound I-35, Sunday morning you started using a brand new ramp. The new connector is elevated, towering over the old connector. With the new connector came the reopening of the northbound I-410 entrance ramp from Binz-Engleman. That ramp had been closed for about a year, and traffic from Binz-Engleman has been moving through the Rittiman Road intersection to reach its destination.

The new northbound I-410 connector to northbound I-35 is seen in use, allowing work underneath and in the footprint of the old connector to move forward. The opening under this elevated connector will bridge the future northbound I-35 exit to Rittiman Road.

This is one of a handful of traffic changes in this I-35/I-410 interchange on the south end of this project. A few months ago the southbound I-35 connector to southbound I-410 was switched to a right-side exit, improving traffic flow for southbound traffic.

In a few weeks, by the way, that right-hand exit will actually put traffic onto the southbound frontage road before guiding traffic onto the connector bridge. This will allow crews to work on the permanent ramp approach, which will allow a stronger flow of traffic to use southbound I-410 from southbound I-35.

Drainage and such

Meanwhile, crews will be addressing some concerns with drainage on the new southbound I-35 through lanes running under the I-410 connector. That work will be done over upcoming weeks - much of it at night - and could help move water off the road in the event of another record-breaking month of rain like we had in June.

Traffic is moving on the southbound I-35 main lanes, running under the connector to southbound I-410 near SAMMC. During the major rain events of May, this area became saturated with water. Project bosses are working on a solution to improve drainage.

"Plugging along"
Most of the project really is "we're plugging along". Crews are busily working to widen I-35 main lanes overpasses at Rittiman Road, Eisenhower and at Randolph Boulevard. This work has necessitated the closure of turnarounds at Rittiman and Eisenhower, but project bosses are saying they'll have those turnarounds reopened for use (during the daytime, at least) by the end of summer. The work on overhead structures will continue to require overnight lane closures similar to what's been done for the last couple of weeks through the month of July.

Bridge work continues over Rittiman Road. Most of this work is done overnight. This photo was taken from a parked vehicle, lest there be any doubts.

All in all, the project is on pace to wrap up the end of 2016.

Secondary work

Just south of all this work is a much smaller job that's intended to help traffic flow along I-35 on the east side of town. The work looks like part of the same project, mostly because the same contractor - LANE Construction - is doing the work. From a paperwork perspective, though, it is a different job.

The scope of work is to add an auxiliary lane connecting the entrance and exit ramps running over Salado Creek. This will help improve safety, giving entering traffic a longer route to speed up to highway speeds. It will also give exiting traffic a little more time to slow down to frontage road speeds.

The biggest thing to be aware of here for now is the routine of daily closures of an occasional frontage road lane between Binz-Engleman and AT&T Parkway. Work on this project will finish this fall.

One more item
As a reminder, the speed limit on the main lanes of I-35 here is 55 miles per hour. Anyone can stand by a portable speed trailer (that reads and displays the speed of passing vehicles) for less than 25 seconds and know that's not what people are doing. Speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour are being reached by traffic near Rittiman Road. These speeds negate the safety features of our project area.

If you drive through this area, please SLOW DOWN.