Traffic switch, lane closures planned between Rice, W. Holcombe boulevards as work continues on Buffalo Speedway

Construction crews with the city of West University Place are planning to switch traffic patterns on Buffalo Speedway during the week of Sept. 19 as work continues on a project to make paving and drainage improvements along the roadway within city limits.

Work was completed on the placement of underground storm sewer boxes across phases 2 and 3 of the project, which span from Gramercy Street to Amherst Street, according to a Sept. 14 update from the city. This will allow crews to completely reopen all lanes at the intersection of West Holcombe Boulevard and Buffalo Speedway.

Starting the week of Sept. 19, work will involve installing new inlets and junction boxes at Duke Street and University Boulevard as well as sidewalk ramps, driveway aprons, and new paving between West Holcombe and Rice Boulevard. As part of the upcoming traffic switch, traffic patterns will be shifted to the west side of Buffalo Speedway, which will be reduced to one southbound lane between Rice and West Holcombe.

Northbound traffic on Buffalo Speedway along this stretch will be restricted, and drivers will be detoured to Kirby Drive.

Crews will also close the west side of Rice Boulevard at the intersection of Buffalo Speedway. Traffic traveling east on Rice Boulevard will be detoured south down Rutgers Avenue, where drivers can go east on University Boulevard. Traffic traveling west on Rice is being detoured south down Belmont Street and then west on University.

Residents who are expected to be affected by the traffic will be notified in advance, city officials said. Some resident driveways will be affected for three to four weeks at minimum during construction as crews work on driveway aprons.

The overall Buffalo Speedway project involves making improvements between Wroxton Road and Gramercy Street at a cost of $23 million, which is funded in part by the city and in part by the Texas Department of Transportation and federal grants. Construction is expected to wrap up in early 2023.