Looking back on a month of progress in August

Sept. 3, 2026

By Ryan LaFontaine

Austin — From emergency repairs in Uvalde to new technology in West Texas, August brought continued progress on transportation projects across Texas.

San Antonio: Major projects move forward

In San Antonio, TxDOT continued making progress on the $1.4 billion Loop 1604 North Expansion Project, including the opening of the city’s first diverging diamond interchange at Blanco Road.

The new interchange allows left-turning vehicles to move without crossing opposing traffic and reduces the number of signal cycles. The project is widening Loop 1604 from four to 10 lanes along a 23-mile stretch of the North Side and is expected to be completed in 2028. Engineers expect half of the project corridor to be complete by year’s end.

TxDOT also advanced plans for another major San Antonio investment. Construction on the $156 million Loop 410/San Pedro Improvement Project is scheduled to begin in September. The seven-mile project includes improvements along Loop 410 from West Avenue to Broadway Street and U.S. 281 from Loop 410 to East Nakoma Drive.

The project will rebuild and reconfigure ramps, improve intersections, add auxiliary lanes and make other improvements. These are designed to improve safety, mobility and connectivity near the San Antonio International Airport.

In Pleasanton, TxDOT began a project to improve pedestrian safety along U.S. 281. The work includes new sidewalks, upgraded walkways, improved driveways and pedestrian signals along the commercial corridor.

Central Texas: New bridges, safer roads

In Uvalde County, TxDOT moved quickly to restore an important connection after severe flooding damaged the FM 481 bridge in July. Crews rebuilt the washed-out approach and completed more than $3 million in emergency repairs in just 37 days, allowing the bridge to reopen Aug. 23.

The rapid response restored a vital route for the Uvalde community several weeks ahead of schedule.

In Seguin, work continued on the $245.2 million I-10 improvement project between FM 464 and SH 130. Crews are working on pavement, bridges, retaining walls and frontage roads as part of a project on I-10. The project will widen portions of the interstate from four to six lanes and improve ramps and bridges throughout the corridor.

The project is currently ahead of schedule, with substantial completion expected in summer 2029.

Conroe and Montgomery County: Projects near completion

Several projects in the Conroe area continued to make progress in August, including major improvements along SH 105, South Loop 336 and FM 1097.

The SH 105 reconstruction and widening project between South Loop 336 and FM 1484 reached 98 percent completion, while the FM 1097 widening project reached 95 percent completion. Another FM 1097 improvement project, between SH 75 in Willis and the Walker County line, jumped to 90% complete.

The projects are part of continued investments to improve mobility, safety and connectivity as Montgomery County continues to grow.

West Texas: New technology and roadway improvements

In San Angelo, TxDOT completed construction of a new auxiliary lane at the Sherwood Way entrance to Loop 306. The additional lane gives drivers more room to accelerate before merging onto the Houston Harte Expressway and addresses safety concerns involving slower-moving vehicles entering high-speed traffic.

TxDOT also began installing new digital message signs at several locations around San Angelo. The signs will provide drivers with traffic, safety and weather information and will be used to deliver important travel alerts.

In El Paso, crews installed the first beams on phase II of State Spur 320 (Borderland Expressway) project, marking another major step forward on the future highway. The work will help build new interchanges and roadway connections as the project advances.

Once complete, Borderland Expressway will help address regional transportation needs by providing an alternate route to I-10. The new roadway is just a half mile south of the Texas/New Mexico state line and will be nearly 11 miles long. The first phase of the new spur was completed and opened to the public in February 2025. Phase III is scheduled to move forward in 2029.

In Wichita Falls and Vernon, TxDOT began replacing aging overhead freeway signs that had deteriorated and become more difficult to read at night. The new signs will improve visibility and help motorists safely navigate the region’s highways.

Central Texas: Copperas Cove project advances

In Copperas Cove, work continued on two projects totaling more than $114 million.

The $7.2 million SH 9/Tank Destroyer Road project is nearing completion, with final paving underway on Old Georgetown Road and work continuing on the new Tank Destroyer Boulevard ramp.

Meanwhile, the $107.5 million U.S. 190 expansion project reached approximately 18% completion. The project will widen U.S. 190 from Clark Road to the Lampasas County line and reconstruct the U.S. 190/FM 2657 intersection with a new overpass.

Once complete, the improvements will provide additional capacity and improve safety and mobility along the growing corridor.

Finally, Governor Greg Abbott and TxDOT announced a new 10-year transportation plan with a total projected investment of $138 billion.

The Texas Transportation Commission approved the 2027 Unified Transportation Program in its August meeting, which includes $95 billion for projects across the state over the next 10 years. The investment is supported by an additional $43 billion in development and routine maintenance.

Across Texas, August demonstrated TxDOT’s continued focus on delivering transportation improvements that make travel safer, strengthen connections between communities and prepare the state’s transportation network for future growth.

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