Adam RollinsOver the past five years, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has been working on a $1.4 billion project to relieve traffic in the New Braunfels region by expanding the local highway. While the project has been approved and is in the design phase, the construction date is still to be determined.
The project targets State Highway 46, a 10.4-mile roadway connecting New Braunfels and Seguin. The road’s current configuration cannot meet the demand imposed by the area’s growing population. Once completed, the roadway will help alleviate congestion, improve mobility and enhance safety.
There are two distinct segments included in the project, separated by proposed changes to the highway from Interstate 35 to the Comal-Guadalupe County line and the remainder of that line to where it connects with I-10 in Seguin.
The first portion of the project—covering I-35 to the county line—will build elevated mainlanes over the existing at-grade roadway. The new mainlanes will feature two lanes in each direction, auxiliary lanes as needed, buffers and a median. The project’s vision includes the construction of two direct connecting flyover ramps.
The second segment of the project from the county line to I-10 will focus on expanding the existing roadway to a four-lane controlled-access highway. Plans include adding both two-lane and one-way frontage roads. The project will build additional overpasses along five separate intersections.
Photo by Griffinofwales via Wikimedia Commons
