It’s no secret that all the construction around town can cause more than just a headache. Here are some updates to ongoing work, plus new construction starting to help you plan your travel routes.  And if you need some time to sit out rush hour, try on of these great happy hour spots!

SH 121 – Widening the Shoulder

Austin Bridge & Road has been officially awarded the funding for this project. Work will soon begin on a shoulder-widening project that according to the Texas Department of Transportation will better accommodate periods of heavy traffic on SH 121 from SH 183 to Glade Road in Colleyville. Widened inside shoulders for both north and southbound SH 121 will be designed to act as additional lanes during peak use periods. Overhead dynamic message signs will alert drivers as to when the peak-use lanes are available. The lanes will continue to act as a shoulder during non-peak hours. The 3-mile project will include widening overpass bridges at Harwood Road, Cummings Drive, Cheek-Sparger Road and FM 157.

SH 121/I-635 -Widening Interchange

To allow permanent work to begin, crews are continuing to install temporary barriers and detour pavement to shift traffic. Grading and utility work will take place as traffic is shifted and the road is placed in its new alignment. Crews will start drilling bridge foundations as well. SH 121 will be rebuilt and widened for new interchanges at I-635 and FM 2499.

N. White Chapel Boulevard – Widening

Due to the large amount of rainfall work has slowed at the construction site of the North White Chapel Boulevard widening project. However, the project remains on schedule. With the recent completion of the 12-inch water line and sanitary sewer, installation utility is almost fully complete. The storm drain installation is about halfway finished. Crews will start pavement work at the site once the prep on the roadway base is complete. Drivers along this route will notice an increase in concrete trucks entering and exiting the construction site at this stage of the project.  Motorists are advised to be cautious driving around construction crews.

SH 26 – Phase 3 Widening

Construction drags on with work on the east side of SH 26 from Pleasant Run Road to Tinker Road and includes excavation/removal of existing northbound pavement. Additionally, construction from Tinker to John McCain Road includes storm drain installation on the east side of SH 26, and pavement work will begin on this section shortly. Work on the west side of the Little Bear Creek bridge continues with concrete placement for new southbound lanes south of the bridge. Work at the intersections of Hall-Johnson Road and Church Road on the east side of SH 26 will occur in the coming weeks.