Skip to main content

Driving to Dallas? I-35 Expands Lanes, Rebuilds Bridges

Back to Volume 9, Number 8


As the next step in TxDOT's My35 Reconstruction Project, rebuilding has begun for the 7.9-mile stretch of I-35E running from Hillsboro to the Hill/Ellis County line. The contractor, SACYR Construction USA LLC, began work on the lanes on Sept. 9, 2019, and estimates the project's completion in 2023. The bid for the project — Sacyr's first in the state of Texas — was $117.52 million.

The project begins near the intersection of I-35 and US 77 — just north of Hillsboro — and extends northeast along I-35E. In place of the four existing lanes, six new lanes will be built to provide a total of three lanes in each direction. For drivers, the addition of the new lanes should provide needed relief from increasing congestion as they take I-35E through Hill County toward Dallas.

temple ribbon cutting

TxDOT construction workers break ground as part of the new I-35E effort to widen the interstate northeast of Hillsboro.


"This section of highway is the last piece of I-35 in the Waco District to be widened to three lanes in each direction," according to Hillsboro Assistant Area Engineer Josh Voiles. "The new configuration will create a seamless connection between this portion and the already widened lanes in Ellis County, as well as replacing aging pavement with new material that meets current construction standards."

Existing bridges along this section (at FM 2959, FM 934 and White Rock Creek) will also be replaced with new structures and new ramps, which will be widened to accommodate the added lanes. The elevated access ramp from I-35E to southbound I-35 will also be replaced with a new structure. A concrete barrier wall will separate eastbound and westbound mainlanes instead of the current cable barrier.

spray truck

The spray truck keeps dust down during construction.


During construction, the existing mainlanes and bridges will continue to remain open to traffic during peak travel hours. Near the split for I-35E and I-35W, mainlane closures will only occur Monday through Thursday nights, between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., and Sunday nights between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Closures on I-35E — from about a mile north of the east/west split all the way up to the Ellis County line — will be restricted to the hours starting at 10 p.m. on Sunday nights and ending at 7 a.m. on Friday mornings. Weekend closures will not be allowed for this project, allowing traffic to flow smoothly during the busiest times.

As construction starts, travelers should pay special attention to signs marking the start and end of work zones to safely navigate this stretch of the interstate. Additional signs will be posted to alert drivers to the changing conditions in the construction zone. Failure to observe speed limits in the work zones can be costly, since traffic fines double if workers are present (whether visible or not).

Speed limits in the construction zone have already been lowered to 65 mph, so drivers should be extra careful when passing through. This part of the My35 Reconstruction Project is intended to provide more flexibility for travelers, but as they travel this roadway during construction, every driver contributes to making the driving environment as safe as possible for all users.

"Drivers will need to be watchful as they commute through this area for the next several years. Up to now, it's been a very quiet stretch of highway without much happening on it. It's easy to get complacent about safety in those conditions," Voiles notes. "But now there will be construction workers and equipment in the area, and they will be working in more than one area at a time. We'll have safety measures in place, but extra attention to surrounding conditions and the work going on is necessary for all the workers and all the drivers to get home safely every night."

Back to Volume 9, Number 8

My35 logo

Central Texas News

Contact

Jake Smith
I-35 Public Information Officer
254-867-2705
Contact My35

TxDOT Waco District
100 S. Loop Drive
Waco, TX 76704

©2022 Texas Department of Transportation • All Rights Reserved