US 281 expansion - the road behind, the road ahead (for 2018)

Can you believe we are already nearing the end of January 2018? As we get acquainted with the new year and all that it has in store, let’s take a look back to see what we accomplished in 2017 on the US 281 expansion between Loop 1604 and Stone Oak Parkway.
Construction began on phase I during the summer of 2017 and motorists began seeing construction activities right away, including:


Columns placed in the early stages of Loop 1604
direct connector construction

• Construction of frontage road bridges at Mud Creek
• Completion of bridge support columns and foundations for two of the four direct connectors to Loop 1604
• Start of construction for retaining walls between Sonterra Boulevard and Redland Road

We do not expect to slow down this year. We should be finished with our first stage of work by the end of the year. In order to get there we will:

• Construct the new frontage roads outside the existing US 281 travel lanes
• Work on all four direct connectors
• Utility adjustments – so many utility adjustments!
• Drainage work
• Install sound walls, bridges and retaining walls where planned
• Construct the sidewalk

Construction crews work on the footprint of the
northbound frontage road near Sonterra Boulevard

Our next stage is scheduled to start late 2018 and will switch traffic to the newly constructed frontage roads. This will allow crews to build out the new express lanes.
By breaking construction into these two stages we can minimize traffic impacts and maintain the same level of service you now enjoy. Even when traffic is moved to the frontage roads we will maintain the superstreet configuration.
The construction team is dedicated to mitigating traffic, access and neighborhood impacts as much as possible. To continue to stay up-to-date on construction activities and lane closures sign up to receive email notifications here.
Overall project completion is slated for 2021.