Work crews with the Texas Department of Transportation continue to make progress on the I-35 Northeast Expansion, or I-35 NEX, central construction project with focused efforts on sections of I-35 and Loop 1604 that run throughout the Northeast San Antonio Metrocom, according to a news release.

In a nutshell

The project entrails the construction of about 9.5 miles of I-35 from Loop 410 North to FM 3009 in Bexar and Guadalupe counties, adding elevated lanes, which will connect to Loop 410 North and Loop 1604 West. The elevated lanes will include one high occupancy vehicle, or HOV, lane and two other lanes in each direction. Official said the purpose of the project is to improve safety and mobility, address an increase in traffic that utilizes I-35, reduce travel times and better serve regional traffic.

The specifics

For FM 3009 to FM 1518:
  • Through Feb. 1, there will be a left-lane closure on the northbound main lanes of I-35 from Weidner Road to Judson Road for illumination work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, multiple lane closures are planned for northbound lanes, including exit and entrance ramp closures of I-35 from Evans Road to Roy Richards Drive for barrier work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, multiple lane closures are planned for northbound lanes, including an exit ramp closure of I-35 from Forum Parkway to Evans Road for drainage work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, there will be multiple lane closures on southbound I-35 mainlanes, an entrance ramp closure and an exit ramp closure from Roy Richard Drive to Schertz Parkway for bridge structure work.
For FM 1518 to Loop 1604:
  • Through April 24, there is a planned long-term closure in effect 24 four hours a day, seven days a week. It impacts the left lane on the southbound frontage road of I-35 from Forum Parkway to Old Austin Road for bridge and roadway work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, drivers can expect a full closure on the southbound frontage road of I-35 from Retama Parkway to Olympia Parkway for bridge substructure work. Drivers are encouraged to follow detour signs, according to the news release.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, there is a planned closure of the southbound frontage road of I-35 from Old Austin Road to Forum Parkway for bridge work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the southbound frontage road of I-35 from Corporate Drive to Evans Road will be closed, as well as the eastbound and westbound lanes of Evans Road for bridge substructure work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the southbound frontage road of I-35 from Forum Parkway to Gateway Boulevard will be closed for striping, barrier, temporary pavement and demolition works.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the southbound I-35 connector ramps to Loop 1604 will be closed as well as the southbound frontage road of I-35 from Forum Parkway to Old Austin Road for striping, barrier, temporary pavement, and demolition works.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, drivers can expect multiple closures on southbound I-35 from Forum Parkway to Ferrell Road for bridge structure work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, drivers can expect multiple closures on southbound I-35 from Schertz Parkway to Forum Parkway for bridge structure work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the southbound frontage road of I-35 and entrance ramp closure from Olympia Parkway to Forum Parkway will be closed for bridge work.
For the Loop 1604 interchange:
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, eastbound Loop 1604 to northbound I-35 connector ramp will be closed for construction work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the westbound I-35 connector ramp at the Loop 1604 interchange will be closed as well as northbound I-35 to eastbound Loop 1604 connector ramp for striping and barrier work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, drivers can expect the closure of northbound I-35 connector ramp at the Loop 1604 interchange for striping, barrier and construction entrance work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, northbound I-35 to eastbound Loop 1604 connector ramp will be closed for drilled shaft, columns and caps.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, eastbound Loop 1604 to southbound I-35 connector ramp will be closed for column cap work. Traffic must exit at IKEA-RBFCU Parkway and follow the detour signs to southbound I-35.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, eastbound Loop 1604 connector ramp at I-35 interchange will be closed as well as southbound I-35 to eastbound Loop 1604 connector ramp for barrier work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the southbound frontage road from IKEA-RBFCU Parkway to Pat Booker Road, eastbound Loop 1604 to the southbound I-35 connector ramp closure, and the southbound I-35 connector ramp closure at the Loop 1604 interchange will be closed for striping and barrier work.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the southbound I-35 to westbound Loop 1604 connector ramp will be closed, and drivers can also expect alternating lane closures on the southbound main lanes of I-35 at the exit to Loop 1604 for bridge substructure work. Southbound I-35 to Loop 1604 traffic should exit at Retama Parkway and follow the detour signs to Loop 1604.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the southbound I-35 connector ramp at the Loop 1604 interchange will be closed for striping and barrier work. Traffic must use west Loop 1604 (exit 172) to access southbound I-35 and follow detour signs.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, westbound Loop 1604 to the southbound I-35 connector ramp will be closed for earthwork. Traffic must exit at Lookout Road and follow the detour signs to southbound I-35.
For Loop 1604:
  • Through Feb. 10, drivers can expect a long-term closure for eastbound to westbound Loop 1604 turnaround from Nacogdoches Road to Union Pacific Railroad for bridge demolition work. Traffic should use Lookout Road intersection.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the eastbound frontage road of Loop 1604 and exit ramp closure from Lookout Road to IKEA-RBFCU Parkway will be closed for column cap work.
  • Through Feb. 8, drivers can expect a long-term closure for the westbound to eastbound Loop 1604 turnaround closure from Lookout Road to Union Pacific Railroad for bridge demolition work. Drivers will be able to use the Nacogdoches Road turnaround.
  • Beginning Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, the westbound frontage road of Loop 1604 from Gateway Boulevard to Gateway Place will be closed, and southbound I-35 to the westbound Loop 1604 connector ramp will be closed. The exit ramp to the frontage road will close for column cap work.
  • Beginning Jan. 31 through Feb. 3, the Lookout Road intersection and turnarounds will be closed for striping. Traffic will need to use the Loop 1604 exit ramp to Lookout Road and follow detour signs.
For more information, visit the website at www.i35nex.com.