Closure of Conrads/Kohlenberg overpass begins in New Braunfels
Demolition of the Conrads Lane/Kohlenberg Road overpass is scheduled to begin Oct. 6 and will likely conclude on Oct. 11.
The work was originally slated to begin Sept. 15 before officials announced delays due to weather. The demolition is part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s $80 million expansion of I-35 to add lanes to both the highway and frontage roads in the region.
A section of I-35 will be elevated to allow for a road connecting Conrads and Kohlenberg to pass under the highway and replace the overpass. Following the demolition, portions of I-35 between Watson Lane and Conrads will be closed to overnight traffic and remain open to traffic during the day.
The expansion project will elevate I-35 and install a new underpass with a major intersection to connect area roads, according to TxDOT. While construction is underway, eastbound traffic will be rerouted to the southbound frontage road and westbound traffic will be rerouted to the northbound frontage road.
Drivers can then utilize the intersection at FM 306 or the newly constructed intersection located between Kohlenberg and Watson to turn around.
Loop 337 bridge at River Road nearing halfway point
The Texas Department of Transportation is progressing on the new Loop 337 bridge at River Road and on schedule to finish the project in fall 2022, weather permitting.
Work on the bridge was originally anticipated to be complete by summer 2023. The overpass will begin west of the Rock Street exit and end west of the River Road intersection.
TxDOT public information officer Laura Lopez said in an email that the project is 42% complete. She added that the work also includes “necessary intersection improvements on River Road and reconstruction of turnarounds,” in addition to the bridge.
The larger Loop 337 project that widened the road from two to four lanes from I-35 to Hillcrest Drive is now complete. The approximately $45 million expansion of Loop 337 began in November 2017 and also included pedestrian access and new traffic signals.
Timeline: February 2021-fall 2022
Cost: $14.2 million
Funding source: Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Lakeview Boulevard sidewalk
The city of New Braunfels completed the paving portion of its Lakeview Boulevard construction and is now working on sidewalk construction. The 1-mile sidewalk runs from California Boulevard to Klingemann Street on Lakeview.
Timeline: November 2020-November 2021
Cost: $1.8 million
Funding source: 2019 bond program
San Antonio Street improvements
The joint San Antonio Street project between New Braunfels Utilities and the city of New Braunfels wrapped up one month early. New Braunfels media and communications coordinator David Ferguson said that it “included new sewer and water installation, street and curb rehabilitation as well as pedestrian/handicap sidewalk and crosswalk improvements.”
Timeline: May 2019-September 2021
Cost: $4.65 million
Funding source: 2019 bond program
