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December 2024: Issue 24
In this issue
- Safe Holiday Travels
- I-35 NEX Central Update Video
- Record Construction Progress in October
- Active Construction Sites
- Contact Us
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The I-35 Northeast Expansion (NEX) Program covers approximately 20 miles of I-35 from N. Walters Street to FM 1103 in Bexar, Comal, and Guadalupe Counties. The I-35 NEX Program–including Central, South, and North projects – involves the construction of two elevated structures that will carry two general purpose lanes and one HOV lane in each direction. The elevated structures will be constructed between the existing I-35 mainlanes and frontage roads. The program also includes incidental construction necessary to transition the elevated lanes and connectors with the existing highways including revisions to ramps and frontage roads and accommodations for drainage, utilities, signs, and other highway improvements.
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We hope you’re able to spend quality time with family and friends this holiday season, starting with getting to your holiday celebrations safely.
To help you along your way, we’d like to share key times around the holidays when there will be no construction lane closures on the I-35 NEX corridor:
- Noon on Monday, Dec. 23, through 10 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26
- Noon on Tuesday, Dec. 31, through 5 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2
Construction will continue behind traffic barriers at some times, but there will be no construction at all on Christmas or New Years Day so that the workers on our project can enjoy their holidays too.
Please follow these driving safety tips to do your part in keeping our roads safe.
 First Precast Straddle Bent Installed on I-35 NEX Project
The I-35 NEX project recently reached a significant achievement by installing the first precast straddle bent. Precast straddle bents are structural elements designed to support elevated roadways. They consist of horizontal beams, known as bent caps, supported by vertical columns. These concrete components are manufactured off-site in a controlled environment before being transported to the construction site for installation. Utilizing precast straddle bents significantly reduces on-site construction time and minimizes traffic disruptions.
The first precast straddle bent installed on the I-35 NEX project is located on the I-35 southbound frontage road, south of the Olympia Parkway bridge over the entrance ramp to the main lanes of I-35. This straddle bent measures 54 feet in length, nearly 5 feet in width, 7.5 feet in height, and weighs approximately 292,000 pounds.
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 Looking north towards Loop 1604 on I-35 between the elevated lanes of the I-35 NEX project at Toepperwein Road.
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October was a landmark month for the I-35 NEX project, marking the most productive period in the project’s history.
A total of 169 precast concrete bridge beams were installed, surpassing the previous record of 109 beams set in June—a significant increase of 155%. This achievement represents over four and a quarter miles of linear bridge beams. Additionally, the team completed a record-setting 35 completed bridge spans, an impressive 60% rise from the previous best month of August, which had 18 spans. Those 35 completed spans account for almost one mile of bridge structures. The team erected 61 columns, reflecting a 22% increase over the previous record.
Precast cap production saw a substantial boost as well, with 24 precast caps set, a 71% increase compared to previous months. Notably, 14 spans of bridge deck panels were installed, representing a 75% increase.
The I-35 NEX project aims to improve safety, mobility, and capacity, with the construction of new elevated lanes of I-35 providing direct connections to I-410 and Loop 1604.
Congratulations to everyone involved in making October a record-breaking month!
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Below is a list of notable active and upcoming construction work. Click on maps for more information. Please note that closures are subject to change.
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One or two mainlanes of I-35 in either direction from north of Walzem Road to Petroleum Drive will be closed for median reconstruction. At least one mainlane will remain open in both directions at all times.
The lane closures will occur on weekends (Friday through Monday) 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. through early 2025.
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Full closure of the I-410 eastbound mainlanes from Nacogdoches Road to Perrin Beitel for restriping and shifting of lanes.
This closure is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 9 through Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
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Nightly closures of westbound mainlanes of Loop 1604 from Pat Booker Road to Lookout Road and the Lookout Road intersection at Loop 1604 for bridge deck work. Traffic should follow detour signs.
The closure will occur periodically from November 2024 through February 2025.
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Nightly closures the eastbound mainlanes of Loop 1604 from Lookout Road to IKEA-RBFCU Parkway and the Lookout Road intersection at Loop 1604 for bridge deck work. Traffic should follow detour signs.
This closure will occur periodically from November 2024 through February 2025.
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The Weidner Road exit ramp from the southbound I-35 mainlanes is closed for bridge structure work.
The closure is in progress through February 2025.
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The westbound right lane of Weidner Road at I-35 and both turnarounds at the Weidner Road and I-35 intersection is closed for utility relocation and drilled shaft work.
The closure is in project through February 2025.
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The southbound entrance ramp to I-35 south of O’Connor Road is closed for bridge structure work.
The closure is in progress through May 2025.
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Exit 174A, the FM 1518/Evans Road exit on northbound I-35 will be closed for approximately eight months or until the new exit ramp is constructed. This closure is necessary for drilled shaft work.
This closure is in progress and is scheduled to end Monday, May 5, 2025.
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TxDOT San Antonio District
Public Information Office
4615 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78229
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E-alert
Sign up for weekly lane closure notices and newsletters by emailing us at i35NEX@txdot.gov
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