TxDOT schedules I-35 closures in Temple

The Trucker News Services

2/14/2008

TEMPLE, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced road closings that will affect trucks and other traffic in the Temple, Texas, starting the week of Feb. 17.

TxDOT will temporarily close Interstate 35 northbound travel lanes and restrict southbound traffic to a single lane at the intersection of I-35 and South Loop 363 in Temple from 7 p.m. Feb. 18 to 7 a.m. Feb. 19, and again from 7 p.m. Feb. 19 to 7 a.m. Feb. 20, weather permitting, the release stated.

The temporary closures will allow construction crews to remove and replace a bridge beam damaged in September of 2007 by a northbound 18-wheeler that was transporting a crane on a flatbed trailer.   

Northbound I-35 traffic will be detoured to the frontage road at Exit 299.  Temple Police Department personnel will assist with local traffic control through the work zone.

Southbound I-35 traffic will be restricted to one lane through the work zone during the operation.

The ongoing interchange reconstruction project is creating a three-level interchange, which will allow east-west loop traffic to flow unimpeded on the upper level, while frontage road traffic will pass through a signalized intersection on the mid-level and north-south I-35 traffic proceeds on the lower level.

The $68.4 million project’s completion is scheduled for fall 2009.

TxDOT advises motorists to seek alternate routes or plan trips accordingly, due to anticipated congestion and delays on I-35 during the overnight hours of these temporary closures.