The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) held a meeting on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 1:30p.m. to discuss proposed improvements that will widen the inside shoulder of SH 121 and provide intelligent transportation systems (ITS) features that will facilitate shoulder use by peak period traffic as a technology lane. The overpass bridges at Harwood Road, Cummings Drive, Cheek-Sparger Road and FM 157 would also be widened within the scope of this project.
Austin Bridge and Road, a highway and transportation infrastructure company, was awarded the project on September 17, 2018, in the amount of $17,427,948 with Billy Havard being the point of contact for TxDOT. The project is anticipated to begin on January 7, 2019, and will be done in two phases. Phase one will begin with the outside shoulder in an effort to adjust traffic over, bridge demo and pier drilling. Phase two will move to the inside shoulder and will consist of total removal and rebuild of a full lane and bridge work. Bridge underpasses will be closed during the demolition of the existing bridge and hanging bridge beams. State Highway 121 may be affected by the closure, but parties will be notified approximately 2 weeks prior to the closure.
Schematic 1
Schematic 2
The 121 underpass at Cummings will be closed the next three to four weeks while Texas Department of Transportation installs bridge column shafts. Service roads will remain open North and South Bound.
Anticipated lane closure activity for the week: January 27
• SH 121 main lanes (various lanes) northbound and southbound from Bedford Road to Glade Road closed for asphalt milling – closure from 7:00p.m. 1/27 to 6:00a.m.
• SH 121 frontage road U-turn (south to north) at Harwood Road continuously closed for construction activity – closure from 2/4 through 2/8
• Cummings Drive at SH 121 Frontage Road continuously closed for construction activity – closure anticipated through late February
Various daily lane closures throughout the project limits are possible from 9:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. All closures are subject to weather and schedule changes.
This is a TXDOT project. For more information, please contact Stephen Ranft, mobility coordinator for the SH121 project, at 817-462-0520 and SH121mobility@gmail.com. Visit the TXDOT PROJECT TRACKER at www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/project-tracker.html