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The Texas Department of Transportation in Pharr is estimating that the Pharr Interchange Project will be fully completed by the end of May.
TxDOT spokesman Ray Pedraza shared the update nearly a week after Direct Connector One, from Harlingen to Edinburg, opened on Saturday. It was the fourth and final connector to undergo demolition and reconstruction.
“We reached another big project milestone with the opening of that connector on Saturday,” Pedraza said. “We had wanted to open it before the end of the year, so it did open in time.”
Work on that connector remains ongoing with only one of the two lanes being open to commuters. However, Pedraza said that both lanes will be available very soon.
“With the opening of DC 1 and not having a need for a detour route there anymore, the FM 495 underpass at I-69C will be reopening,” Pedraza said. “People traversing on (FM) 495 will have access to that underpass again.”
He said that most of the remaining work on the project before the end of Spring completion date is on the future westbound lanes of I-2. TxDOT is continuing to complete work on the bridges located on Cage Boulevard, Jackson Road and Business 83.
“We have half of those built,” Pedraza said. “We have four lanes of traffic moving on that newly built side. What we’re working now is the future westbound lanes, the other half of the Cage (Boulevard) bridge and the other half of the Business 83 and Jackson Road bridge. That is where the bulk of work that needs to be done remains.”
Pedraza praised the swift work done to complete the Harlingen to Edinburg connector in a timely manner. The old Harlingen to Edinburg connector was demolished in July. Since then, crews have worked seemingly nonstop with cleaning debris and the construction of the new connector, which is almost fully complete.
“TxDOT acknowledges the contractor’s efforts to staff the project to sustain a seven-day work schedule that also includes night shifts,” Pedraza said. “As the public has been able to witness, there have already been several key milestones accomplished on the project including the completion of all four direct connectors that have been constructed at a relatively fast pace.
“We encourage the public to observe and obey all signage and barricades on the project, and to be extra vigilant when driving through the work zone.”
