Major I-35 projects in New Braunfels cross the halfway point

Three I-35 construction projects aimed at improving safety and mobility near New Braunfels continue to progress, as all are over 50% complete.

The projects focus on updates to ramps and frontage roads, as well as Park and Ride facilities between FM 1103 and Schwab Road at former rest stops. The Texas Department of Transportation is leading the projects that, in total, will cost $107 million.

"Weather has impacted progress on all the jobs but at this point we cannot determine if this will impact final completion," TxDOT spokesperson Laura Lopez said.

The most recent of the three projects runs from FM 306 to the Hays-Comal County border. That project began in February 2020 and is 58% completed. TxDOT officials anticipate that the segment will be completed by June 2022 and cost $63.8 million. That project includes ramp revisions, intersection operation improvements and converting frontage roads into one-way roads.

The project that runs from the Guadalupe River to FM 306 and at the intersection of FM 306 began in September 2019 and is 63% completed. TxDOT officials said the project would be completed by January 2022 and costs $18.4 million.

Improvements from that project include frontage road widening from from 1.3 miles south of FM 306 to FM 306, operational improvements at FM 306 and sidewalks and curb ramps at the FM 306 intersection.

The stretch from FM 2252 to Schwab Road is the nearest to completion with an expected completion date in December. That project is 79% complete and began in July 2019. The total cost of that project is $24.6 million.

That segment aims to make operational improvements at the FM 2252, FM 1103 and Schwab Road intersections with new entrance and exit ramps on both the northbound and southbound sides.