WACO, TX — Starting Tuesday, the 60-plus year old pedestrian bridge across I-35 near 8th Street will be demolished.
Contractor plans call for the bridge to be removed in four sections.
On Tuesday night, the northbound frontage road will be closed from 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, as the contractor takes down and cleans up the debris from the first section, the entrance ramp to the bridge.
The work will be centered in the median and all frontage road traffic will be detoured to the mainlanes just north of 17th Street.
Drivers will be able to move back onto the frontage road at the 4th and 5th Street exit ramp, #335A.
There will be different closures expected to happen throughout the rest of the week.
On Wednesday, from 7 p.m. - 6 a.m., the northbound mainlanes will be closed as the section of the bridge over those lanes will be destroyed and the debris is cleaned up.
First, frontage roads traffic will be moved on the mainlanes at 17th Street, then traffic will detour to the frontage roads at exit #334B, to a single lane, to 8th Street drivers will be able to re-enter the mainlanes at 4th and 5th Streets.
On Thursday, from 7 p.m. - 6 a.m., the southbound mainlanes will be closed. Frontage road traffic will be moved on to the mainlanes, then traffic will detour to the frontage road at University Parks to a single lane to 18th Street.
Traffic will not be allowed to cross I-35 at University Parks to allow the freest possible travel for the mainlane traffic during the work.
Traffic intersections will be turned to flashing red for the cross streets.
On Saturday, from 6 p.m. - 10 a.m., the southbound frontage road will be closed as the final section of the bridge is removed and the debris is cleared.
All frontage road traffic will be moved onto the mainlanes after 4th Street, and all side street connections and driveways will be closed as work is being completed.
TxDOT is asking drivers to be aware and to plan alternate routes during this time.
All work is planned weather permitting, and each night, if the work is completed early, the lanes will be reopened when the work is completed.
