TXDOT plans to embark on a $1.51 billion-dollar IH-35 expansion that will help decrease transit times by up to 48% and expand traffic lanes from 4 lanes to 7 lanes utilizing elevated lanes this summer. The northernmost project that extends from FM 3009 to FM 1103 alone will cost approximately $430 million.
Design of the project took place October 2021 and construction is set to begin this summer and end late 2027, spanning a little over 6.5 years.
Construction is set to begin in the May timeframe, but an exact date has not been finalized. Early activities will setting up barricades, setting concrete barriers, preparing the ROW, and constructing temporary pavement. TXDOT doesn’t expect substantial work to begin until the August timeframe.
The total project length will be 20 miles, from N. Walters Street in San Antonio to FM 1103 in Comal County. The expansion is designed to alleviate traffic growth on IH-35, improve safety and mobility and reduce travel time. The expansion project will add capacity via elevated lanes. Elevated lanes will be built between existing main lanes and frontage roads. It will also include HOV lanes. Additionally, it will improve the interchanges at Loop 1604, I-410 North and I-410 South to better accommodate added lanes.
Notable milestones focus on the elevated lanes, with February 2026 as the targeted completion date for southbound lanes, and August 2027 as completion of the northbound lanes.
Based on a 2018 Automotive daily traffic audit, over 124,000 vehicles travel I-35 Southbound. With the addition of elevated lanes, there will be reduced traffic on each lane, despite a 20% increase in vehicle traffic expected in 6 years. The added capacity and decreased transit times will greatly benefit the San Antonio MSA.
“Adding capacity to the highway system helps reduce congestion and burden on local companies who transport goods throughout the United States and Mexico to and from Schertz.” says Adrian Perez, Executive Director for Schertz EDC. “Staying focused on the tremendous impact and importance of these improvements is going to be critical through the necessary construction phases.”
Construction Timeline
Overall – mid 2022 to late 2025 (July 2022 to September 2025)
Directional
Southbound Frontage Roads – mid 2022 to late 2024 (July 2022 to December 2024)
Southbound Mainlanes – N/A
Northbound Frontage Roads – late 2024 to early 2025 (December 2024 to February 2025)
Northbound Mainlanes – late 2023 to early 2025 (December 2023 to March 2025)
Schertz Pkwy South Turnaround Bridge – late 2024 to late 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025)
Schertz Pkwy North Turnaround Bridge – late 2024 to late 2025 (November 2024 to September 2025)