Will Lockett, New Braunfels-area engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation, told Cibolo City Council that the delays are due to conflicts with telecommunication providers and utilities hindering the progress of the planned project.
“With the public utilities that are in the way, the contractor cannot work efficiently,” he said.
The project
Work on the first phase of FM 1103 broke ground in November with the project planned to be completed in 2026.
The $39.2 million project will see the expansion of the road from two lanes to four lanes running from I-35 to Rodeo Way.
Pedestrian accommodations with 6-foot sidewalks and bicyclist accommodations with 5-foot bike lanes will also be added in each direction.
Due to the work ceasing, the completion date of the project has been moved to an undetermined date while TxDOT works with contractors to figure out the best solution for moving forward with the roadway.
Despite the delays, TxDOT will continue work on FM 1103 with an initiative to help reduce the number of potholes and other imperfections in the road.
On July 24, work began to provide a mill and inlay, which will help improve the road by making it smoother to drive on.
During the construction time, sections of FM 1103 are reduced to one lane with traffic control guiding vehicles through the construction area.
What’s next?
TxDOT will continue working to find a solution to the road conflicts to continue the road project, Lockett said.
“We are working with consultants to pretty much see if we need to redesign the project and try to avoid the utility conflicts that we found instead of having the utility companies move again,” Lockett said.
Lockett said a full redesign of the project could take up to 12 months to complete should that be the direction TxDOT goes.
