Summer Travel Safety Tips, Updates from I-35 Waco District Team

As the post-pandemic world opens up again and people travel more freely, traffic is increasing, including along Main Street Texas (otherwise known as I-35). Anxious to get out of the house and enjoy summer now that school is out, whole families are hopping in their cars and hitting the road. Just remember, safety is even more critical with increased traffic, so read on for a quick refresher to make sure you arrive alive on I-35.

TxDOT’s I-35 Waco District team will work to mitigate congestion issues related to increased traffic as travel increases during the summer. The team is already planning for high-traffic volume windows (e.g., Thursday and Friday nights, Sunday afternoons) and coordinating with I-35 construction teams to limit high-impact construction activities during those times. Be on the lookout for changes in construction and lane closures in your area or near your trip destination.

Use caution on pedestrian crosswalks like this one at Behrens Circle near I-35 in Bellmead, Texas. Your surroundings might have changed as part of construction efforts since the last time you were there.

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Construction will progress at full speed this summer. The team’s focus will be the bridges for the new northbound I-35 mainlane pouring columns, installing caps and setting beams. Work will also continue on the northbound and southbound I-35 frontage roads. If you take the mainlanes on I-35, major lane closures along your route should be minimal. Most of the impacted traffic will intermittently be on the frontage roads and at the intersections crossing the interstate from mid-July to September.

“The biggest challenge is getting the sheer volume of work that needs to be completed done in the time frame we need to maintain the project completion schedule,” comments Heavy Civil Division Executive Vice President Nick Wolf, the I-35 construction contractor for Webber, LLC. “However, if the weather is nice throughout the summer, we’re in a good position to finish the project on schedule. To keep everyone safe this summer, please remember to slow down when workers are present — we’re trying to finish as soon as possible for you.”

Pay attention to the My35 safety signs, like these (pictured above and below), as reminders on pedestrian and bicyclist safety near I-35

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As Wolf suggests, watch out for work zones as you travel on I-35. When you see the signs ahead, start thinking about what you might encounter and prepare yourself mentally. The best thing you can do in a work zone to maximize safety is make a conscious effort to take stock of your surroundings — other vehicles around you, but also narrower lanes and workers close to the road — and prioritize safety. And most importantly, slow down and be aware of vulnerable workers. John Habermann, I-35 lead mobility coordinator for TxDOT and Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) research engineer, shares these work zone safety tips:

Tip #1: Pay Attention.
Put down your phone and ignore any distracting sounds or notifications.

Tip #2: Slow Down.
Decrease your driving speed; you’ll be out of the construction zone soon enough.

Tip #3: Be Aware.
The area might have changed since the last time you traveled on I-35.

“Don’t let your excitement of being able to travel again cause you to get impatient or speed,” says Habermann. “Enjoy the journey, take breaks and arrive alive.”

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A variety of My35 trip planning tools are available and free to the public. Sign up to receive My35 text alerts regarding incidents, updates and all-clear notices. Select the Text tab on the My35 Travel Notifications page for instructions and more information. The interactive map DriveTexas™ is your go-to site for Texas highway driving conditions. Before you set out on your trip, open the DriveTexas™ map to check for crashes, closures, construction, damage, flooding, rest areas and more. For an even more comprehensive look at the construction occurring in and around Waco, visit the My35 Waco Project 4B Traffic Map. This map shows you current traffic conditions and delays, a search for incident alerts and construction project progress, and a list of up-to-date lane closures. If you prefer to visualize your trip, check out the live feeds from the My35 traffic cameras.

The DriveTexas™ map provides travelers with real-time updates on traffic conditions, closures and crashes across the Lone Star State.

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“There are more than 3,400 active work zones on TxDOT-maintained roadways, including My35 Waco. Within the My35 Waco work zone, safety for the traveling public and the hardworking road crews is the top priority for TxDOT and its partners,” says Jake Smith, public information officer for TxDOT’s Waco District. “Driving conditions through My35 Waco, like many other work zones, can be challenging. However, TxDOT provides a number of tools, including the ones mentioned in this article, to help you safely navigate work zones.”

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