Tell Us What You Think! TxDOT Wants to Hear from Wacoans Ahead of Construction

As TxDOT begins construction from 12th Street to North Loop 340 in Waco, the department wants to hear opinions from travelers about what information they find useful as they travel I-35 and what traveler information system works best for them. To participate in a brief, anonymous survey, visit My35survey.org. Survey results will be used to evaluate and improve current traveler information efforts.

"Throughout the My35 Expansion Project, we've worked hard to involve the public, not only in the planning process to identify needed improvements along the I-35 corridor, but also during construction," explains I-35 Public Information Officer Jodi Wheatley. "What information is relevant to you as a traveler? How do you like to receive that information? The more feedback we get from folks, the better we can serve their information needs."

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Motorists who regularly travel I-35 through Central Texas know construction work has been under way to improve this busy corridor. Keeping travelers informed about road closures, detours, slow-downs, and other construction-related events — both before and during their trip along the entire 96-mile construction zone — has been an integral part of the construction effort. The TxDOT team is planning to provide more targeted information as construction in Waco proper begins.

Initial surveys identified the types of information travelers find useful in planning their trips and the ways in which they prefer to receive that information. From those initial surveys, an array of traveler information resources was developed.

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My35 Central Texas Traveler Information Resources:

• My35.org will serve as the hub for construction information for Waco. It also provides resources for both planning a trip and remaining aware of any incidents that might occur in Waco or on I-35.
• DriveTexas.org is your #1 resource for planning your route wherever you're driving in Texas.
• A real-time project map provides speeds, lane closures, traffic delays, travel times and incident reports.
• TxDOT twitter feeds give you both general and specific information (your choice) about travel conditions on I-35.
  • @My35TravelTimes keeps you apprised of travel delays in the Central Texas section of I-35.
  • @TxDOTWacoPIO provides general updates of what TxDOT is doing in and for the Waco District, with special emphasis on I-35 conditions.
  • @I35travel provides construction updates and traffic information along the I-35 corridor in Texas.
• Email alerts — Sign up for regular updates on I-35 construction.
  • My35 lane closure alerts provide daily updates, 7-day closure forecasts, and high-impact closure forecasts.
  • Central Texas incident alerts provide email alerts about unexpected incidents (e.g., a crash, or an emergency lane closure).

The I-35 expansion in Waco between 12th Street to North Loop 340 is designed to dramatically improve mobility and safety. The Waco 4B project reconstructs almost six of the remaining nine miles that are unimproved on I-35 through the Waco District. The immediate construction impact of the project on Waco and its greater urban area makes this the most expensive and complex highway construction project the Waco District has developed to date.

Improvements include expansion from three to four lanes in each direction, expanded roadside traveler information, a modern roadway design that enhances safety and a redesign of the on- and off-ramp locations and lengths, to improve safety and access on frontage roads.

"The Waco leg of the I-35 Expansion Project is very much in keeping with the goals of the project to date," Wheatley says. "TxDOT is working hard to improve safety and mobility while minimizing impact on travelers and local businesses during construction."

Efforts to improve the I-35 corridor throughout the state would not be possible without the support of local governments, the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress. In addition to the ongoing $1.9 billion construction expansion of I-35 through TxDOT's Waco District, a number of critical projects are under way in the Dallas/Fort Worth region to improve I-35 connections to I-820 and I-635 thanks to a partnership with the private sector. Meanwhile, TxDOT continues to plan for the long-term future of the I-35 corridor through the My35 citizen-driven planning initiative.

For more information about I-35 expansion projects, the My35 planning effort, or to see a summary of the survey results once the survey is completed, visit My35.org.

Back to Volume 9, Number 4