|
 |
|
March 2025: Issue 27
In this issue
- Even Concrete Needs a Blanket When It’s Cold
- Reaching New Heights
- I-35 NEX Central Progress Report
- National Engineers Week
- Active Construction Sites
- Contact Us
|
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.
|
|
|
The bridge structures you see in the I-35 NEX construction corridor are strong, resilient giants, but it takes a little tender loving care to get them there.
That’s why the contractor working for TxDOT wrapped the freshly poured cap in this picture in orange insulating fabric.
Industrial blankets help large concrete structures cure correctly and achieve the desired strength, durability, and longevity by maintaining consistent temperature and moisture while the concrete dries.
In the winter, blankets protect against cold, which can slow curing and prevent concrete from reaching its full strength. In the summer, blankets protect against heat and help retain moisture loss, which also can prevent concrete from curing properly.
In conclusion, concrete curing blankets regulate temperature and moisture loss, helping freshly poured concrete cure to full strength.
 Second tallest column on the I-35 NEX project at I-35 and Loop 1604 interchange
Recently, on the I-35 NEX Central project, the contractor just finished pouring the tallest column on the project and one of the tallest columns in San Antonio. This 98-foot giant is at the I-35 and Loop 1604 interchange, and it will help support the direct connector from the northbound I-35 mainlanes to the westbound Loop 1604 mainlanes. Of the over 1,500 columns in the first phase of the I-35 NEX project only column one is taller and only by three feet. To create a column of this height, 240 cubic yards of concrete are needed, which is roughly 24 cement trucks worth of concrete.
|
|
 Drilled shaft work on northbound I-35 frontage road near O’Connor Road.
As of late February 2025, we are making significant progress on the drilled shafts for the columns along I-35, between Weidner Road and Park Booker Road. Out of a total of 257 drilled shafts in this section, 215 have been completed, which accounts for 84% of the work.
The I-35 NEX project celebrated National Engineers Week with a friendly competition. All employees on the project's first phase were challenged to solve three fun and intriguing riddles that tested their problem-solving abilities, creativity, and math skills. The first eight submissions to correctly answer all three riddles would earn bragging rights among their peers.
There were over 60 submissions. Over the first three days, there were only five correct submissions. After four days, there were seven, and on the fifth day, the last available submission was turned in.
Would you like to test your skills and knowledge? The three riddles are above, and the answers are at the bottom of this newsletter.
|
|
|
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.
 |
|
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.
|
 |
|
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 through March 2025.
|
 |
|
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 through March 2025.
|
 |
|
The Weidner Road exit ramp from the southbound I-35 mainlanes is closed for bridge structure work.
The closure is in progress through April 2025.
|
 |
|
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.
|
 |
|
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 early May 2025.
|
 |
|
The southbound I-35 exit ramp to Thousand Oaks Drive/Starlight Terrace is closed for drilled shaft and column work from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. until early May 2025. |
 |
|
The northbound I-410 entrance ramp south of Greatfare will be closed until early summer 2025 for bridge work. |
Answers to puzzle:
Card # 6: A, D, G, H, F, B, E, C
Card # 8: 49 meters
|
|
|
TxDOT San Antonio District
Public Information Office
4615 NW Loop 410
San Antonio, TX 78229
|
|
E-alert
Sign up for weekly lane closure notices and newsletters by emailing us at i35NEX@txdot.gov
|
|
Scan here to access our website.
|
|
|
|
