TxDOT on April 26 opened the southbound I-35 to northbound US 183 and southbound I-35 to southbound US 183 flyovers.
These new ramps mark the first substantial milestone in the I-35 at US 183 flyover project. TxDOT broke ground on the $124 million project, which will deliver a total of four new or reconstructed flyovers connecting the two major highways, in January 2018.
An hour before state crews opened the new southbound I-35 flyovers, TxDOT additionally closed an existing ramp off northbound I-35 for a planned long-term closure.
The northbound I-35 to northbound US 183 ramp is closed for the next four months as TxDOT crews reconstruct the ramp. State officials said the reconstruction is necessary to decrease the incline on the ramp, which will make it easier for vehicles to ascend.
“We’re going to lessen the grade of that flyover to make it easier for traffic to climb it,” said Diann Hodges, public information officer for TxDOT.
The state officially closed the ramp at 10 p.m. April 26.
Vehicles wanting to enter northbound US 183 from northbound I-35 will have to take a detour using the Rundberg Lane exit, or exit 241 on I-35. The detour will take drivers around the U-turn at the Rundberg and I-35 intersection.
According to an April 22 TxDOT news release, this U-turn is closed to local traffic in order to manage traffic flow at the intersection of Rundberg and the I-35 frontage road.
TxDOT traffic counts from 2019, the most recent data available, show approximately 142,000 vehicles on an average daily basis drive on US 183 between I-35 and North Lamar Boulevard. Just east of I-35, that number drops to 91,992 vehicles. That means that around 25,000 vehicles get onto northbound US 183 from I-35 on any given day.
Hodges said motorists taking the exit detour have a dedicated ramp connecting the U-turn to the recently opened flyover connected to northbound US 183.
The state is currently working on the last new flyover at the interchange, which will connect northbound US 183 to northbound I-35. Hodges said TxDOT anticipates that flyover, the last substantial connection in this project, will open to traffic sometime this fall.
ONGOING PROJECTS
Anderson Mill Road improvements
Crews in April started work to build new shared-use paths on near the intersection of the US 183 frontage road and Anderson Mill Road. The next phase of construction will extend the existing median and right-turn lane at the Anderson Mill at US 183 intersection.
Timeline: July 2020-late 2021
RM 2222 improvements
State crews in mid-April began paving new eastbound lanes from River Place Boulevard to an upcoming bypass road connected to RM 620. Crews will next work on installing curbs and sidewalk.
Timeline: late 2018-summer 2021
