In Austin, SEMA Construction, based in the city, is constructing four direct flyover connectors where I-35 meets Ben White Boulevard. Proposition-14 bonds funded the $26-million project. The third and final phase of the work, which began in 2010, is expected to be completed this fall.

“We have fairly small spaces to work in, so the challenges have been how to build and get those pieces up in the air and be able to work around the traffic,” says Terry McCoy, TxDOT area engineer. The agency is using steel girders to cross the main lanes and concrete U-beams on the balance of the project. The substructure is cast-in-place concrete.

In Buda, Ballenger Construction of Rio Grande Valley, Texas, is widening Main Street from a three-lane overpass to five lanes, with further widening possible in the future. The $9.4-million project is 70% complete.

In Kyle, at the intersection of I-35 and Windy Hill Road, Hunter Industries of San Marcos, Texas, is replacing a two-lane overpass with a five-lane section and constructing a frontage road. The $13-million project is 85% complete.

Dallas-Fort Worth partnerships

To the north, work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area includes two comprehensive development agreement projects, built as public-private partnerships.

The North Tarrant Express, a $2.5-billion project, is being built by NTE Mobility Partners, which is led by Cintra US of Austin. The work includes constructing I-35 westbound direct connectors into the eastbound-managed lanes.

LBJ Infrastructure Group, a Cintra-led consortium, is building the $2.7-billion, 17-mile-long LBJ Express, which will include elevated managed lanes along I-35 eastbound to connect directly to the I-635 managed lanes. It is expected to double the capacity of the LBJ Freeway and accommodate population growth over the next 30 years, according to the project website.

Gainesville gains new spaces

In Gainesville, Ed Bell Construction of Dallas is extending frontage roads adjacent to I-35 to tie into U.S. Route 82. The 3.1-mile project also will widen the U.S. 82 Bridge to accommodate turn lanes. Funded by $14.3 million in ARRA monies, the project is 30% complete and scheduled for completion in 2013.