NW Military Roadwork (Salado, Howe, Blanco: day care, neighborhoods, construction)

[some_guy_in_sa]

Hey, I live near NW Military, and I was wondering if anyone knew about the roadwork going on and if it was going to be finished anytime soon.

[catriona]

From what I understand, the construction started in January, 2007, and is supposed to take three years to finish. AT&T was supposed to move the phone cables and rebury them underground, which may explain all the current construction. I think drainage problems are also being addressed. The road between Braesview and Huebner will be widened to four lanes with a raised median and bicycle lanes. I thought they were putting in middle turn lanes, but I guess they will only be a strategic areas, to prevent too many accidents. They may decide at a later time to widen it to six lanes.

Supposedly, there will be raised medians, I'm guessing, from Braesview to Huebner, which will help with the safety issues and people blocking traffic trying to make left hand turns. I don't know if they will do the same from Huebner to 1604. I also don't know if there will be a light at the new HEB, since the Wurzbach Parkway light is so close, but don't be surprised if there is a light somewhere between Braesview and Wurzbach. They are supposed to widen the road from Huebner to 1604, with the turning lanes included.

It would have helped a lot if they had built an overpass for Wurzbach, so we wouldn't have to be stuck in that light all the time! I'm glad about the raised medians, since there are more than a few 'hot spots' for accidents, namely NW Military and George Rd, where people are trying to turn left to enter the daycare facility and back up traffic, and at NW Military immediately south of Huebner, where people are trying to make another lefty into the Oak Meadows subdivision.

Any one else heard any other news?

[scuba steve]

Originally Posted by catriona

...The road between Braesview and Huebner will be widened to four lanes with a raised median and bicycle lanes.

They probably have the best intentions for this, unfortunately with a road that size and traffic moving along a foot away at 45+mph I doubt they will be used much. Instead they should make an extra wide sidewalk for pedestrians and cyclists. It's much safer for the person in the car and on the bike, and more usable.

[catriona]

Originally Posted by scuba steve

They probably have the best intentions for this, unfortunately with a road that size and traffic moving along a foot away at 45+mph I doubt they will be used much. Instead they should make an extra wide sidewalk for pedestrians and cyclists. It's much safer for the person in the car and on the bike, and more usable.

I so agree with you on this! Even now, the cyclists are using the road, and with the construction barriers up and the 45+ mph, it is so dangerous. The ones I've seen are not people using bikes for transportation, but people that appear to be 'in training'. I wish they'd find another road to take, at least until the construction is over with. I've come across several that are causing traffic holdups which could turn into potential accidents. People in the inside lane frequently slam on their brakes because of a left hand turner up ahead, and there's no where to go, except into the other lane where the barriers are.

There is building construction going on behind Oak Meadow Elementary. There appear to be two entry drives which will add to the conjestion on NW Military when the businesses open up. Even more reason for barriers to be placed in the road to prevent the left hand turns.

[scuba steve]

I have a friend that lives in that guarded/gated neighborhood over there and used to take Military Hwy NW to get to his place, but discovered the awesome set of paved trails that starts at Huebner and Salado(?) Creek and runs to Bitters while connecting to the back end of some of the neighborhoods along Military Hwy. I used to bike off to the other side of the barriers, but will never take that route again. Now if the sidewalk along Huebner was twice or 3x as wide as it is now the whole route would be easy.

The only place I think cars and bikes can safely travel without there being something separating them like a curb are streets where traffic moves at 35mph or lower.

[TexHwyMan]

Originally Posted by some_guy_in_sa

Hey, I live near NW Military, and I was wondering if anyone knew about the roadwork going on and if it was going to be finished anytime soon.

As others have reported, this is a widening and general improvement project for that stretch of Military. It is scheduled to be complete in the Fall of 2009, but is currently running a little behind because of delays with the utility work.

Initially, they were planning to widen it to six lanes with a raised median or center left turn lane (depending on location) along with bike lanes. However, just like with the Blanco project a few years ago, neighborhoods along the way protested having a road that wide, so for now, only four lanes will be striped with the pavement for a future additional lane on each side used as a buffer between the bike lane and main travel lanes. As traffic warrants in the future, the additional lanes will be added by restriping.

[cr1039]

^^nope, spring 2011 is the new completion time frame.

[amybeccaz]

Ugh.... I live in this area, and it's the biggest pain of all! The parents trying to turn into the day care at George & NW Military are causing major backups (they can't help it!), no one will let them through. Construction is NOT there every day. Sometimes they're there two days out of the week, sometimes we don't see them at all, or we see 5 guys work in one section, and that's it.

The Salado Creek Greenway is AWESOME. It actually starts at Huebner & ends at Blanco, so that's a plus for this area.

As for what they're building behind Oak Meadow Elementary, I have heard it's more drainage stuff.... as I don't know what could possibly be built in that tiny space of an area.

I hope they get new lights @ Wurzbach & NW Military b/c most of us can't see the lights until we get a few feet in front of it to see if it's green or yellow or even red. Somehow it's not positioned correctly.

[catriona]

Originally Posted by amybeccaz

Ugh.... I live in this area, and it's the biggest pain of all! The parents trying to turn into the day care at George & NW Military are causing major backups (they can't help it!), no one will let them through. Construction is NOT there every day. Sometimes they're there two days out of the week, sometimes we don't see them at all, or we see 5 guys work in one section, and that's it.

The daycare center situation has been a pain for years. Especially because the entrance is so close to the intersection. Since the center has expanded and actually has an entrance further away from the intersection, I was hoping that they would make it an "enter only" and the other one "exit only" and thus not having the back ups and possibilities of rear end collisions. I don't think putting a center turn lane there is going to help, either, since those turning left on George Rd will need that space. The same situation happens up by the JCC, but it looks like the center turn lane will alleviate that problem.

The Salado Creek Greenway is AWESOME. It actually starts at Huebner & ends at Blanco, so that's a plus for this area.

On a nice day, you will find families walking or biking along the path. Folks walk their dogs, too. I'm so glad they found a good use for that area!

As for what they're building behind Oak Meadow Elementary, I have heard it's more drainage stuff.... as I don't know what could possibly be built in that tiny space of an area.

Me, either. I hope it's just drainage!

I hope they get new lights @ Wurzbach & NW Military b/c most of us can't see the lights until we get a few feet in front of it to see if it's green or yellow or even red. Somehow it's not positioned correctly.

Especially on a windy day. My DH says they need to have lights like they do in some places in the hill country that are on poles where you can see them from a distance.

Probably the biggest issue on NW Military now is that people don't slow down and pay attention to the lane closures, which change often during the day. I saw a lot of near misses where people going north get in the wrong lane (turning lane) and then try to scoot over to the right. They slam on their brakes, causing "happy moments" for those following, or they dart over, causing more "happy moments" for those in that lane.

And don't you just love having to drive over/around/inbetween/whatever! those exposed metal/concrete things in the road?

[amybeccaz]

Originally Posted by catriona

And don't you just love having to drive over/around/inbetween/whatever! those exposed metal/concrete things in the road?

Oh, I know! I keep moving over to the other lane so I won't keep hitting those exposed metal/concrete things! My husband said once they get the median built, then they will lay a final layer of concrete/asphalt over it, and cover it all up. Can't wait for that to happen! I'm constantly cringing thinking "ok... hope I don't get a flat from that, or punch a hole in my oil pan, etc"