Zooming in
Although in its early planning stages, the project focuses on two sections of roadway: Hwy. 46 from I-35 and I-10, and I-35 from S. Walnut Avenue and FM 306, according to a presentation from an April 23 New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation luncheon.
The Hwy. 46 portion of the project makes up 11 miles, and the I-35 section of the project makes up approximately 4 miles, according to a 2023 open house presentation from TxDOT.
The project aims to improve safety by providing controlled-access lanes and overpasses. The current configuration of Hwy. 46 includes two 12-foot lanes in each direction, 10-foot-wide shoulders and a 16-foot-wide center turn lane.
The proposed improvements in Comal County include elevating Hwy. 46 main lanes, adding two new elevated ramps between Hwy. 46 and I-35 that will merge with I-35 traffic and ramp reconstruction along I-35. Those changes are designed to reduce congestion at intersections, according to an email from TxDOT.
For Guadalupe County, TxDOT is proposing expanding Hwy. 46 into a four-lane highway, which would include new overpass locations and a one-way frontage road to better manage traffic and provide safer highway access. The new main lanes would consist of two 12-foot lanes in each direction, with additional supplemental lanes as needed. The additional lanes would connect directly to the flyovers between I-35 and Hwy. 46, the email states.
Why now?
TxDOT is trying to address increasing traffic volumes on Hwy. 46, impacting safety and mobility, and extensive congestion on Hwy. 46 near I-35 during peak hours.
Seguin’s City Manager Steve Parker said they have about 17,000 homes that will be built across the city, and that getting projects like this completed before that growth happens is going to be “crucial.” Comal County’s population is forecast to increase by 164% by 2050. In Guadalupe County, the population is projected to increase by 107% in 2050, according to the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Mobility 2050 Plan.
The number of vehicles along Hwy. 46 are also projected to increase by 78% by the year 2048 in Comal County and by 84% in Guadalupe County, according to 2019 Initial Project Traffic Projections.
Josh Schneuker, director of Seguin’s Economic Development Corporation, said the project is long overdue.
“It’s [going to] really enhance connectivity between the two cities, it’s [going to] open up economic development opportunities—specifically at some of these key intersections that plan to have more controlled access,” Schneuker said.
More details
TxDOT held two virtual open houses to introduce the project to the public and for the community to provide feedback in 2023.
The proposed project would require additional right-of-way, potentially displacing residential and nonresidential structures. Between August and November of 2022, TxDOT held over 100 meetings with potentially affected property owners who own property along the Hwy. 46 corridor frontage road, according to a 2023 open house presentation.
Melissa Reynolds, Seguin’s director of engineering and capital projects, said the existing right of way is 120 feet, and the project proposes increasing that right of way to 260, which is a “significant” amount of land. Reynolds previously worked as the assistant city engineer for the city of New Braunfels.
“People who have homes and businesses along that corridor are scared and they’re concerned about the impact that it’s [going to] have between having traffic that close to their front doors and, also in some cases, they’re [going to] be swallowed up by the new right of way lines,” Reynolds said.
Since right-of-way acquisition and construction are not currently funded, there is no estimated construction timeline, according to an email from TxDOT. However, the project is expected to cost approximately $1.4 billion.
Funding for the project is included in AAMPO’s Mobility 2050 plan. The plan is not currently funded in TxDOT’s 10-year plan, according to the presentation.
Looking ahead
The project is currently in the schematic design phase. TxDOT is actively conducting environmental studies and preparing an Interstate Access Justification Report, which is a document that analyzes the safety, operational and environmental impacts of a proposed change to access points on the Interstate System. A public hearing on the proposed project is expected to be held in the fall to provide individuals an opportunity to submit feedback and offer suggestions, the email from TxDOT states.
“We are committed to working with the public and stakeholders to ensure that the final plan will address the needs of the area while improving safety and mobility for everyone,” the email states.
