New Braunfels | February

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

ONGOING PROJECTS Online map will help navigate $871M in NBU projects over 5 years New Braunfels Utilities launched a Traf- c Impacts Map geographic informa- tion system Jan. 13 that highlights road construction events due to utility work, including lane, intersection and road closures that may impact travel routes. The Trac Impact Map can be found at www.nbutexas.com/current-construc- tion-impacts-and-road-closures. Those utilizing it can access details about closures and the capital im- provement projects under construc- tion, the project’s benets, budget amounts and when the project is anticipated to be completed. NBU plans to invest more than $871 million into 153 projects over the next ve years. According to the utility, the capital improvement projects are designed to provide the New Braunfels community with safe and resilient electric, water and wastewater services. “Committed to the NBU vision of being a trusted community partner dedicated to excellence in service, our sta con- tinuously works to maintain, repair, and enhance infrastructure to ensure future generations enjoy reliable and resilient services,” said Melissa C. Krause, NBU’s chief strategic communications and security ocer. NBU said it is committed to providing timely and important information to the community, and the new Trac Impact Map is another example of delivering on this commitment. “These necessary improvements have the potential to create numerous road impacts. The new online tool is designed to benet our community and beyond, to see the road impacts and understand the ‘why’ behind the closures,” Krause said.

HWY. 46 FORECASTED GROWTH The corridor connecting Comal and Guadalupe counties is projected to see a dramatic increase in vehicles traversing Hwy. 46 by 2048, making a major transportation project necessary for the roadway. Hwy. 46 to be expanded for high volume growth east of I35 The Texas Department of Transpor- tation is in the planning stages of mak- ing improvements to Hwy. 46 to meet current and future trac volumes and regional population growth. The completed project will span Hwy. 46 from I-35 to I-10 and I-35 from Comal County Guadalupe County BY SIERRA MARTIN 337 46 2019 2048 Vehicles per day

26,500

33,700

South Walnut Avenue to FM 306. “The improvements that we are making are to meet the current and future trac demands along the stretch of State Highway 46,” TxDOT Public Information Ocer Laura Lopez said. “Especially with the growth, people moving into Seguin and also New Braunfels, so the purpose is to reduce congestion, improve mobility, increase safety along State Highway 46.” TxDOT has proposed to expand Hwy. 46 with operational improve- ments to include additional lanes, overpasses and intersections. The proposed expansion also includes limited ramp reconstruction along

2048 60,050 *

48,950 *

60,050 *

*PROJECTED

SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

I-35, according to Lopez. There is a 78% projected increase in vehicles traversing Hwy 46 in Comal County and an 84% increase in Guadalupe County by 2048, according to TxDOT. Improvements to Hwy. 46 in Comal County include elevating through lanes, constructing new direct connecting yover ramps between Hwy. 46 and I-35, and limited ramp reconstruction along I-35. In Guadalupe County,

improvements include expanding Hwy. 46 to a controlled-access four- lane highway, new overpass locations and new one-way frontage roads, according to TxDOT. The next steps in the project include rening the draft schematic while considering input from the public and completing the environ- mental clearance needed for con- struction to begin. A second public meeting is anticipated to take place in the fall and another in summer 2024.

South Castell Avenue closures continue into March BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN

and Nacogdoches streets, will provide an additional 24-inch transmission main needed to send water from downtown out to the county line tank and surrounding area. The segment of pipe has reached “end of life based on age, condition and material,” according to the city’s trac

advisory website.

Several segments of Castell Avenue are closed until March 14. As a part of the city’s Castell Avenue street rehabilitation project, New Braunfels Utilities will continue to work on replacing 4,165 feet of water lines on Castell. The project, in between San Antonio

According to a press release, the project is expected to reduce water main breaks, leading to fewer maintenance events and lowering long-term repair costs. In addition to NBU’s water improvements, the city will also repair the pavement and make trac improvements.

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF JAN. 25. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT NBFNEWSCOMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.

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