The closures are necessary as part of a 2.5-year, $20.7-million project that will construct an overpass on Aquarena Springs Drive over the Union Pacific railroad tracks. The project limits begin on the east end at Zunker Street spanning west to Charles Austin Drive.
The Aquarena Springs Drive Overpass will run from Charles Austin Drive to Mill Street.[/caption]The lane closures will include both ends of the project. The easternmost closure will span from Zunker Street to Warden Lane. The westernmost closure will include an area near Charles Austin Drive. The road will be reduced to two lanes with one lane of travel in each direction during the closure period.
Reyna said the closures will allow crews to begin building the access roads that will run parallel to the overpass. So far crews have mostly been working on utility relocation and preparing the project area for the new road.
“This is where people will really start to see some of the work because we are going to be constructing the frontage road with these lane reductions,” Reyna said.
The project has forced some short-term lane closures, but the closures beginning in March will be different, Reyna said.
“We’re going to have sporadic lane closures throughout the project,” Reyna said. “That’s just unavoidable. But what’s unique about this one is that these are going to be in place long-term, if you will. We won’t reopen them at the end of each day.”
When the project is completed, Aquarena Springs Drive will include a four-lane overpass with two lanes in each direction as well as access roads on each side of the overpass with two lanes in each direction. The access roads will also feature six-foot-wide sidewalks.
