By Andy Sevilla.
An $11.5 million project adding u-turn lanes to four Interstate 35 overpasses in Kyle and Buda is in the works with rollout expected in early January. The mobility improvements will allow drivers to u-turn from one frontage road to the other, bypassing traffic lights at the bridges, much like the Kyle Crossing overpass on Exit 217.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials announced at a preconstruction conference last week that the project, scheduled to begin on Jan. 6, should take about 15 months to complete.
The mobility improvements will also widen the Robert S. Light Bridge, as well as replace some existing I-35 on-and off-ramps.
“This is good. Anytime they can widen those bridges …and add the (Texas Turnarounds) … it will help traffic move through those intersections,” said Kyle’s newly hired city engineer, Leon Barba.
U-turn lanes will be added to the north and south sides of the Center Street Bridge; to the south of the Kyle Parkway Bridge; to the north and south sides of Robert S. Light Bridge; and to the south of the FM 2001 Bridge. U-turn lanes to the north of the Kyle Parkway and FM 2001 bridges already exist.
According to the project plans, I-35 on and off-ramps north of Kyle Crossing and south of FM 2001 will be removed and replaced with newly configured ramps.
Hays County area engineer for TxDOT, Victor Vargas, said the interstate ramp replacement was proposed to decrease “bottle necks” at the approaching intersections. The new on-ramps will be placed before approaching the Robert S. Light and FM 2001 bridges; and the new off-ramps will be placed north of the Kyle Crossing, Robert S. Light and FM 2001 bridges.
Vargas said that when an interstate off-ramp is placed just before an approaching intersection, the traffic tends to build at the light and causes congestion even during off-peak hours, much like South Austin drivers experience when exiting I-35 at William Cannon. The new interstate ramps in Kyle and Buda will help ease that traffic build- up and with new Texas Turnarounds added to area bridges, Vargas said the hope is that mobility will be continuous on the frontage roads.
The existing interstate on- and off-ramps north of the Center Street Bridge and south of Kyle Crossing, which experience the same congestion TxDOT is alleviating north of Kyle Crossing, will remain the same.
TxDOT awarded the construction project to the Lane Construction Company, the lowest bidder at $11,532,962.31, according to TxDOT documents. If the proposed timeline holds true, the project should be finalized by the 2015 spring.
Vargas said construction dates for each bridge and other improvements have not been finalized. He did say barricades will go up on Jan. 6.
Per the project’s contract, traffic lanes can be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow for construction. The contractor will be assessed a lane rental charge for each freeway main lane or exit ramp closed or obstructed outside of those hours, according to the contract.
TxDOT construction elsewhere in Hays County
TxDOT contractors are in the midst of a $4.7 million overhaul of the Hopkins Street (SH 80) and Aquarena Springs Drive (Loop 82) intersections with I-35 in San Marcos.
The road improvements in San Marcos will improve safety and relieve congestion on the major corridors by improving left-turn movements, adding medians and building sidewalks, according to a city news release.
Construction at Aquarena Springs Drive and I-35 intersection will begin this week and last through April. The construction is expected to have minimal impact on traffic, with an occasional one-lane closure, and access to area businesses will be maintained at all times, the statement said.
Improvements to the Hopkins Street and I-35 intersection will begin in April. The whole project is expected to take nine months.
