TxDOT construction nearing end

BOERNE — While the construction along Interstate 10 in town may seem never- ending, city officials say much of the work should be rolled up by the end of this year or early next year.

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09/25/2022 12:00 AM

BOERNE — While the construction along Interstate 10 in town may seem never- ending, city officials say much of the work should be rolled up by the end of this year or early next year.

A presentation from city Development Services Director Jeff Carroll earlier this month indicated a majority of work on Texas 46 – more commonly known to locals as Bandera Road – across the interstate should be wrapped up between October and December.

Carroll said the Texas Department of Transportation expects to finish the bridge deck by next month or November.

“In TxDOT speak, it should be substantially complete by the end of the year other than growing grass,” Carroll said. “All of their deadlines are October, November, December this year.” A “backage” road, similar to where Upper Balcones Road intersects the access road by Starbucks, is expected to be completed next month where School Street, 46 and the interstate access road come together.

All of the projects nearing fruition may lead to some route changes for motorists, according to local officials, as drivers will no longer be able to turn left onto Bandera Road from School Street or vice versa.

Also, a median will run the length of the new bridge, stopping those turning left onto the “backage” road from 46 to get to Upper Balcones Road.

The last project on the list for TxDOT is to smooth out the frontage roads, said Carroll, which will happen once the bridge is complete.

This is expected to be done by the end of 2022 when the state highway department will then lay down a special, drought-resistant grass seed mix, he added.

During the City Council presentation on TxDOT’s deadlines, officials expressed concerns about safety surrounding the temporary construction sites.

“I don’t have any reason to question TxDOT’s timelines because my questions would be of no value,” District 1 Councilman Joe Macaluso said. “So my question is about safety.”

Macaluso described an intersection headed toward San Antonio on the access road past the Main Street bridge where a yield sign is small and inconspicuous, leading to many near misses on the busy throughway.

“I’ve almost been hit there,” the councilman said.

Carroll said he’d ask TxDOT to install a larger yield sign.

“In TxDOT speak, it should besubstantially complete by the end of the year other than growing grass. All of their deadlines are October, November, December this year.”