Reconstruction of bridge at Barker Cypress and Hwy. 290 to last through summer

Work began in early June on the reconstruction of the bridge at Hwy. 290 and Barker Cypress Road as part of the ongoing Hwy. 290 expansion project.

The first phase of the project involves shifting travel lanes to the western half of the existing bridge, said Karen Othon, public information officer for the Texas Department of Transportation. Temporary pavement markings have been placed to allow for two lanes northbound and one lane southbound on the bridge.

Othon said work began on the project several weeks prior to the start of demolishing the bridge June 13—crews began with storm sewer installation along the frontage road of the highway.

"The goal is to safely reconstruct the bridge to accommodate two through lanes and one left-turn lane in each direction, and to widen the bridge's span across Hwy. 290," Othon said. "Since we are widening Hwy. 290, the bridge will be spanning a longer distance so it was necessary to reconstruct [it]."

The demolition of the bridge is not the first major construction project at the Barker Cypress and Hwy. 290 intersection in the past two years. In 2013, TxDOT installed cloverleafs at the intersection to address congestion relief sooner before the Hwy. 290 project began, Othon said.

"The cloverleafs were part of our ultimate plan and were built in their final configuration in the TSM project," she said.

The reconstruction project is expected to take about 80 days, and construction crews will be working 24/7, Othon said.