A little less than three years ago, May 2019, TxDOT began the more-than-6-mile-long I-35 Waco Project. The contractor began by narrowing three lanes of traffic — both northbound and southbound — down to two. Southbound traffic shifted to existing northbound mainlanes. The contractor installed new drainage systems, built new southbound frontage roads, demolished old southbound bridges, placed new southbound pavement and erected new southbound bridges.
By March 2021, both northbound and southbound traffic had shifted to new southbound mainlanes. This shift allowed the contractor to begin demolition of northbound bridges, remove old northbound pavement and construct new northbound bridges and pavement. In early March 2022, northbound traffic shifted to new northbound pavement from US 84 to north Loop 340, approximately 1.5 miles.
Twelve bridges have been reconstructed in less than three years, along with the paving of approximately 7 miles of new four-lane pavement. In early summer 2022, TxDOT expects to shift another 2-mile (or longer) section of northbound traffic from the southbound side to the new northbound pavement.
On top of the rigorous challenges traditionally associated with reconstructing more than 6 miles of an interstate, TxDOT, the contractor and community stakeholders contended with implementing new processes and safety measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the governor and local officials issued shelter-in-place orders, employees transitioned to working from home, schools moved to virtual learning, and TxDOT developed safety and business protocols to keep Texans safe while ensuring construction moved forward.
Despite the new challenges presented by the pandemic, TxDOT could not simply halt work altogether. Goods needed to be delivered to stores and homes, travelers required access to necessary services like medical appointments, and emergency services needed reliable routes to respond to calls. Most weeks and months go by with TxDOT quietly going about its routine business of building and maintaining a safe, reliable transportation network. During a crisis, however — such as Hurricane Harvey in 2018 — TxDOT has consistently risen to the challenge, and 2020 was no different.
John Habermann, Texas A&M Transportation Institute research engineer and I-35 lead mobility coordinator, reflects, “The progress of this project is impressive on its own, but the past year’s special circumstances — such as the need to disseminate new protocols, deliver new training and communicate virtually to fulfill social distancing and quarantine requirements — highlight the resilience and responsiveness of TxDOT in meeting the mobility and safety needs of all roadway users.”
Jake Smith
I-35 Public Information Officer
254-867-2705
Contact My35
In addition to coordinating construction, TxDOT’s I-35 Waco District team monitors performance metrics for the corridor such as:
