I-35 SAMMC still working thru Rodeo weeks

Any time we have a project within immediate proximity of the AT&T Center during the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo we dramatically limit lane closures to promote efficient traffic flow. By the way, we keep a sharp eye on the Spurs home schedule to give the same treatment where we can there, also....
With that in mind - and the lingering fact we've not posted an update on these projects in a while - this post will give a look at what's happened and what to expect in upcoming weeks. By the way, the work between George Beach and AT&T Center Parkway is on pace to wrap up by the start of summer (this year). The expansion project between Windcrest and the I-410 southern interchange should wrap up by early 2017.

Street lights
We get calls on a very regular basis asking about the street lights out along the stretch of these projects. Because only street lights at intersections and ramps really serve a safety purpose, we've installed temporary lighting where needed. The other lights are mostly aesthetic; cars have headlights to help drivers see at night. We include lighting along these stretches at the request of local municipalities.
Crews have cut the power lines to these lights as they work on new structures in the vicinity, and are planning to reuse the existing conduit for the new lines that will power up the overhead lights. Connecting those power lines will be among the last tasks to be complete on the project; live wires pose a hazard to dirt crews digging in the area, and copper theft generally keeps out contractors from running the wires until they're ready to power the lines.

Salado Creek area
The next major thing to happen is completion - well, partial completion - of a new southbound exit ramp to AT&T Parkway. That should happen by early March. The ramps around Binz-Engleman should be rebuilt and open back up in time for Battle of Flowers (if weather cooperates).
Crews are continuing what work they can on the new auxiliary lanes of the main lanes these next few weeks, so long as the work doesn't require closures. Once the rodeo has wrapped up we'll start looking at schedules for resurfacing the main lanes and doing all the right asphalt work. Hopefully by then the overnight temperatures are high enough to lay asphalt anyway.
Electricians are working in the conduit for wires controlling those lights as well as TransGuide structures. Where they need to fill some work time into their schedule they'll work on the support columns for new overhead highway signs to be installed at the end of the project.

New direct connector
One of the biggest features of the project is the new southbound I-35 connector to southbound I-410. While traffic is currently exiting to the right to make that switch - which was the goal of this feature - we've still not opened the actual connector traffic will use. Traffic is still using the old connector, which used to be part of a left-hand exit ramp.
Project bosses hope to have that new ramp open by the end of the school year. Once it's open crews can get to work on the new northbound I-35 exit to Rittiman Road, which will weave under the new connector and the northbound I-410 connector to northbound I-35, merging with the I-410/I-35 frontage road just north of Space Center. Eliminating the exiting traffic to Rittiman from the merge of the two busy interstates will contribute significantly to easing congestion in the area.

Rittiman Road intersection
While we're on the topic of Rittiman Road, the north-to-south turnaround could open as early as the start of March. We're also hoping to have currently closed ramps between Rittiman and Eisenhauer to reopen by April, which will launch crews into the next stages of work (and a new list of closed ramps).
Just getting the ramps and the turnaround open at Rittiman won't solve everything, however. We have scheduled a full reconstruction of the road at this intersection, which will require closures later on. As we get nearer to this work we'll have closures to announce (we're a few months away right now). This reconstruction should address some of the clearance issues we've seen with large trucks.

I-410 interchanges on the west/northwest side

Earlier this month news of $1.3 billion in halted highway fund diversions broke, and the Texas Transportation Commission announced potential projects to be funded by this money now staying on Texas highways. Some of that money will fund the bulk of a $89 million project constructing two direct connectors at the intersection of I-410 and US Hwy 90.

The new connectors will help traffic moving from eastbound Hwy 90 to northbound I-410 and from southbound I-410 to westbound US 90. Put simply, the intersection will look almost exactly like the intersection improvements currently under construction on I-410 at Hwy 151.

Work on the interchange at US 90 won't begin until late this year, at the earliest. More information on this project will be available as we get closer to project readiness. However crews have been building the two new direct connectors at Hwy 151 for three months already, so we'll address progress on that project.

Perhaps the most visible progress on the job is the rapid construction of the bridge support columns that will eventually carry the two new connectors. Williams Brothers Construction is trying to finish the column work nearest the currently closed eastbound entrance ramp from Potranco Road and the currently closed westbound exit ramp to Potranco and Military roads. Project bosses are aiming to have those ramps reopened several month ahead of the initially projected end-of-2016 date.

Right now, in fact, WB is trying to finish some work and have those ramps reopened as soon as this summer. Overnight or weekend closures will still be needed to set bridge beams and do other work overhead later on, but the ramps will be back in action sooner rather than later.

In other areas WB is pushing hard to do work along the frontage roads of I-410 between Hwy 151 and Ingram Road - most of this work involves adjusting some drain structures and preparing to adjust the footprint of the frontage road. Part of this adjustment includes a bypass lane at Military Road. Since the new connector from southbound I-410 to westbound Hwy 151 will essentially occupy the same ramp space the current exit to Hwy 151 takes, our designers worked to ensure folks heading to the retail center at that northwest quadrant of the intersection may do so effectively.

Overall completion of the new 151-410 interchange is on target for the end of 2017.

Next week's construction-related closures

I-10 – Boerne

• Wednesday, February 10. 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Westbound frontage road between Scenic Loop Road and South Main Street. Alternating lanes will close while crews install light poles.

I-10 – Downtown San Antonio

• Current until Friday, February 19. 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly. Frontage road, both directions, between Cincinnati and Fredericksburg Road (lower level). The left lane will close while crews do overhead bridge work. Crews will not perform work on Friday or Saturday nights.
• Sunday, February 14 until Thursday, March 31. 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between North Colorado and Fredericksburg Road (lower level). The right lane will close while crews do overhead bridge work.

I-35 – East San Antonio

• Current thru February 2016. Exit ramps, both directions, to Eisenhauer Road. The ramps will close while crews build a new exit ramp. Traffic will use the next available ramp and turn around to reach Eisenhauer Road.
• Current thru February 2016. Northbound entrance ramp from Eisenhauer Road. The ramp will close while crews build a new entrance ramp. Traffic will use the next available ramp.
• Saturday, February 6. 4 a.m. until 4 p.m. Main lanes, both directions, between Eisenhauer and I-410. Alternating lanes will close while crews stripe the roadway and reset barrier.
• Monday-Thursday, February 8-11. 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Southbound main lanes between Rittiman Road and George Beach. Two right lanes will close while crews do dirt work.
• Sunday-Friday, January 31-February 5. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between Walzem and George Beach. Alternating lanes will close, two at a time, while crews widen the roadway.
• Sunday-Wednesday, February 7-10. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Main lanes, both directions, between Binz-Engleman and AT&T Center Parkway. Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• Sunday-Thursday, February 7-11. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Frontage road, both directions, between Binz-Engleman and AT&T Center Parkway. Alternating lanes will close while crews do road work.
• Sunday-Thursday, February 7-11. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek. The turnarounds will be closed while crews do bridge work.
• Monday-Friday, February 8-12. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Southbound frontage road between Eisenhauer and Rittiman roads. The frontage road will close while crews work on the storm drain structures. Traffic will enter the main lanes and re-exit the highway.
• Monday-Thursday, February 8-11. 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Frontage road, both directions, between Binz-Engleman and AT&T Center Parkway. Alternating lanes will close while crews do bridge work.
• Monday-Thursday, February 8-11. 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. daily. Turnarounds, both directions, at Salado Creek. The turnarounds will be closed while crews do bridge work.
• Wednesday-Thursday, February 10-11. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Main lanes, both directions, between Rittiman and Eisenhauer roads. Alternating lanes will close while crews move and reset barrier.

I-37 – Atascosa County

• Monday, February 8. 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Northbound main lanes between the Atascosa River and U.S. 281A in Campbellton. The right lane will close while crews repair the roadway.

U.S. Hwy 90 – West San Antonio

• Current until May 2016. Westbound frontage road between Hunt Lane and East Kriewald. The frontage road will close while crews reconstruct the Medio Creek Bridge.

Hwy 151 – Northwest San Antonio

• Current until December 2016. Westbound exit ramp to Ingram and Potranco roads. The ramp will remain closed while crews install bridge support structures for the direct connector ramps being constructed.
• Current until December 2016. Eastbound entrance ramp from Ingram and Potranco roads. The ramp will remain closed while crews install bridge support structures for the direct connector ramps being constructed.
• Monday-Tuesday, February 8-9. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Westbound frontage road between Potranco Road and Hunt Lane. Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the road.
• Tuesday-Wednesday, February 9-10. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Eastbound frontage road between Potranco Road and Hunt Lane. Alternating lanes will close while crews restripe the road.

Loop 1604 – Northwest San Antonio

• Saturday, February 6. 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Northbound frontage road between Helotes Creek and New Guilbeau. The left lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• Monday-Friday, February 8-12. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Northbound main lanes at Hwy 151. All lanes will close while crews work on the bridge deck of the new connector ramp. Traffic will exit Hwy 151 and turn around at Wiseman, returning to Loop 1604 via westbound Hwy 151.
• Monday-Friday, February 8-12. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Southbound frontage road between Bandera and Braun roads. The right lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• Monday-Sunday, February 8-14. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Southbound frontage road at Shaenfield. The right-turn lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• Monday-Sunday, February 8-14. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Southbound frontage road between Shaenfield and Creston Drive. Alternating lanes will close while crews do concrete work.
• Monday-Sunday, February 8-14. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Northbound frontage road at Cavender Chevrolet. The right lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• Monday, February 8 at 3 a.m. until Sunday, February 14 at 4 p.m. continuous. South-to-north turnaround at New Guilbeau Road. The turnaround will close while crews do concrete work.
• Wednesday-Friday, February 10-12. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. Southbound frontage road at Helotes Creek. The right lane will close while crews do concrete work.
• Friday-Saturday, February 12-13. 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Northbound main lanes at Hwy 151. All lanes will close while crews work on the bridge deck of the new connector ramp. Traffic will exit Hwy 151 and turn around at Wiseman, returning to Loop 1604 via westbound Hwy 151.
• Monday-Tuesday, February 15-16. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Northbound main lanes at Hwy 151. All lanes will close while crews work on the bridge deck of the new connector ramp. Traffic will exit Hwy 151 and turn around at Wiseman, returning to Loop 1604 via westbound Hwy 151.

Other roads – Northeast San Antonio

• Sunday-Friday, February 7-12. 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly. Rittiman Road at I-35. All lanes will close while crews work on overhead bridge structures. Traffic will turn right onto the frontage road and turn around at the next available intersection.

Other roads – Schertz

• Monday-Friday, February 8-12. 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily. FM 3009, both directions, between I-35 and FM 78. The right lane will close in each direction as needed while crews do sidewalk work.

Other roads – Pleasanton

• Tuesday, February 9. 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. State Highway 97, both directions, between North Trail and Turkey Gulch roads. One-way traffic control will be employed while crews set barrier. Expect delays.

Other roads – Kendall County

• Monday, February 8. 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. State Highway 46, both directions, between mile markers 482 and 484. Alternating lanes will close while crews work on roadway markers.

All closures are pending weather.

Comal County projects roundup

It's been a while - like, since at least last year. Isn't it about time we gave a run-down on the happenings in and around Comal County?
Here's a look:

Walnut Hill
To put it simply, Dean Word Company is nearly three-quarters the way done with the project. The most visible portion of the project, though - the full closure of Walnut Avenue between Grandview and Floral - has been stretched even further over the last month. Initially slated to reopen mid-December, we are now looking at waiting for late March to reopen the roadway. The biggest reason here is safety.
The original plan called for opening Walnut Avenue to one lane each way. Concerns of rubber-necking through a canyon with limited sight distances has led project bosses to work with city officials and come to a later opening agreement.
A lot of work remains, but construction is progressing well. Crews have begun setting up a sound wall along the canyon and are finishing up drain structures. Perhaps nicest for those living in the immediate vicinity, cleanup at the top of the hill has begun while crews prepare to do concrete work.


Loop 337 at Ridge Hill
The striping contractor is scheduled to come through early next week to restripe the roadway and provide for a new left-turn lane. We are also working to add a new ditch line to the project and fix the barricades that have occasionally drifted into the travel lanes.

FM 1101
To be completely honest, we're still waiting on a private utility to complete work they began more than a year ago. Current estimates place completion of the utility work sometime this spring. We will then move forward with the project.

US 281 at Hwy 46
The biggest thing to report her is we're more than 80 percent of the way finished with this project. This project has admittedly moved extremely slow and we are assessing the contractor, CRG, appropriate liquidated damages. With the walls nearly complete, dirt crews will begin grading the new turnarounds next week with the aim to start laying asphalt by the middle of the month. We are holding bi-weekly meetings with the contractor to keep them moving, and hope to have work complete in time for summer.

FM 306
Hunter Industries is moving along well, working primarily on drain structures and extensions to existing box culverts. As a relatively new project, we don't have much else to report at this time. This project is scheduled to finish up in 2017.

I-35 ramp reversals
The only thing we really have left at this point is a quick resurfacing of the southbound frontage road. That should eliminate the issues we have with the glare during certain times of the day.

Upcoming projects
Lots of work is coming on the horizon, but here are the highlights:

• Resurfacing of I-35 between Solms Rd and the river. This work should start late spring or early summer. This should only feature overnight work.
• Pedestrian and bike facility improvements along Landa Street. This work will begin this summer.
• Rehabilitate Hwy 46 between I-35 and FM 758. This is an extensive repair job that will start this fall.
• Reconstruct the I-35 bridge at FM 1103 and widen FM 1103 between I-35 and Steele High School. This work is programmed for early 2017.
• Loop 337 expansion. We're actually working to make this a one-piece project rather than complete work in segments as initially planned. We hope to begin work mid-2017.
• Expansion of Hwy 46 in Bulverde. This is currently planned for late 2017.

Upcoming meetings
You're getting everything with this post! Don't miss out on some MAJOR meetings we have coming up. Mark these on your calendar and be sure to join us to give your thoughts on some very important issues:

• Feb. 16, 6p-8p at Eden Hill. Open house forum regarding future work on Loop 337.
• March 1, 6p-8p at the New Braunfels Civic Center. Metropolitan Planning Organization presentation on projects being considered for federal funding.
• March 3, 5p-7p at Smithson Valley High School. Open house forum regarding the expansion of Hwy 46 in Bulverde.
• March 29, 5p-7p at Steele High School. Open house forum regarding future work on FM 1103.

Aftermath of new Shaenfield intersection....

Williams Brothers Construction opened up the new Shaenfield Intersection on Saturday, shutting down the temporary turnarounds and effectively ending the superstreet configuration along Loop 1604 on the northwest side.

That's left a spate of growing pains as traffic engineers with the city of San Antonio work out the kinks of signal timing with our electricians on the job. Traffic headed north and south along Loop 1604 through Shaenfield has experienced longer-than-normal delays as the signal timing takes shape this week, but city engineers were working on-site through Tuesday to solve the issues. Meanwhile, project supervisors are considering modified lane configurations to help the flow of traffic.

Similar issues arose with the opening of the New Guilbeau intersection about a month ago. One major complication with this intersection we didn't have at New Guilbeau is the four-way nature of the intersection; the city recently opened up an extension of Shaenfield creating a demand for four-way signal timing. This will effectively mean we treat (and time) the Shaenfield signals much like we do the signals at Braun Road for now.

The silver lining here is the fact we're inching closer to having express lanes with overpasses opened. Initially slated to be open late 2016, the main lanes are on pace to be finished and in use by early summer - and, given some good weather between now and then, perhaps even before this year's NBA Finals.

Interchange at Hwy 151

This weekend Williams Brothers also set bridge support beams to form the new direct connector for traffic from southbound Loop 1604 to eastbound Highway 151. This work required main lane closures off Loop 1604 for the entire weekend. The good news: traffic issues associated with the closure were smoother than expected. If you were part of the solution to that - which means you found an alternate route to avoid the closure - THANK YOU!

We still have overhead work in the area that will require similar closures. The next scheduled closure is tentatively set for the weekend of March 5-6, when bridge beams carrying the main lanes of Hwy 151 over Loop 1604 are set. Project bosses are also trying to schedule work on the direct connector so they can utilize the closure to get added work done, eliminating the need for a weekend's worth of closures.

Overall completion of the new intersection of Hwy 151 and Loop 1604 is on pace for the end of this year.