Texas transportation officials say they are moving ahead of schedule on several key infrastructure projects, part of a multibillion-dollar effort to expand roads, relieve congestion and improve flood resilience across the state.
The Texas Department of Transportation reported Thursday that projects ranging from highway expansions to new flyovers and drainage systems advanced in September, with some finishing months ahead of schedule.
In San Antonio, a $6.8 million turnaround bridge at the U.S. 90 and Texas 211 interchange wrapped up roughly four months early. The project is one of several in the region’s ongoing Loop 1604 expansion, a $1.4 billion effort to widen the northwest corridor from four to 10 lanes and reconfigure the outdated I-10 interchange.
TxDOT officials said five of eight planned flyover ramps are already open to traffic near The Shops at La Cantera, with the remainder expected to open by 2027.
In Houston, a $400 million project to elevate I-10 above the White Oak Bayou floodplain is entering a critical phase later this month. Beginning Oct. 24, westbound traffic will be reduced to two lanes between I-45 and Houston Avenue as crews rebuild elevated mainlanes and replace the Houston Avenue Bridge.
Several connector ramps will close for extended periods, including the I-45 southbound to I-10 westbound ramp, which is expected to remain closed until mid-2026. The I-10 eastbound to I-45 northbound ramp will stay shut through 2028.
“These projects are about more than just mobility,” TxDOT spokesperson Veronica Beyer said in a statement. “They’re about safety, flood protection and preparing Texas infrastructure for future growth.”
In Central Texas, the department is also studying an extension of U.S. 290 from State Highway 130 to State Highway 95 near Bastrop, one of the state’s most congested corridors. The 15-mile project, still in its planning stage, could include new tolled mainlanes and intersection upgrades to improve traffic flow between Travis and Bastrop counties.
Meanwhile, international contractor Ferrovial announced $720 million in new Texas infrastructure contracts, including a deep pump station connected to Austin’s I-35 Capital Express Central project. The system is designed to improve flood drainage along one of the state’s busiest urban highways.
Gov. Greg Abbott has touted the state’s 10-year, $146 billion transportation plan as a cornerstone of Texas’ long-term economic growth strategy.
“These investments ensure Texas remains the economic engine of the nation,” Abbott said in a recent statement. “We’re not just building roads — we’re building opportunity.”