Location
Loop 1604 between Bandera Rd. (SH 16) and Hausman Rd.

Description
This project is reversing the the entrance and exit ramps along eastbound Loop 1604 between Bandera Rd. and Hausman Rd., i.e. the existing entrance ramp from Bandera is being switched to become the exit ramp for Hausman, and the existing exit for Hausman is being switched to become the entrance from Bandera. The new exit ramp will merge into the access road just north of the northernmost driveway for HEB (i.e. near the Popeye's.) The new entrance ramp will leave the access road just south of Bamberger Trail. Note that this location for the new entrance ramp is temporary; it will be replaced with a permanent ramp a little further north as part of the larger Loop 1604 expansion project in this area. The reason the current project isn't building that ramp in its ultimate position is because that will require widening the overpass at Hausman to accommodate the acceleration lane, which would increase the cost of this project beyond what's available at this time, i.e. this project would not be able to be built now to provide the interim relief.

While this is a relatively small projects, it should make an appreciable improvement; see below for an explanation why.

This project is considered to be a temporary "quick-fix" project until the larger Loop 1604 expansion project provides more comprehensive improvements.

There previously was second project planned in 2020 on the westbound side that would have converted the westbound exit to Bandera to a two-lane exit ramp and constructed an auxiliary lane (i.e. an additional lane on the right side) on westbound 1604 between the Hausman entrance ramp and the Bandera exit. It was cancelled as the start date for the Loop 1604 expansion project in this area was firmed-up for 2021 and superseded this project. That project will widen Loop 1604 and will reverse the westbound ramps between Hausman and Bandera.

PREVIOUS RAMP ARRANGEMENT

FUTURE RAMP ARRANGEMENT

How this project will help
Moving the Bandera entrance ramp will provide more storage area for the traffic that frequently backs-up from that ramp into the Bandera/1604 intersection during the morning rush hour. It will also provide better access to Loop 1604 from the HEB and apartments along the access road. The relocated Hausman exit ramp will provide better access to Farris Stadium.

On the westbound side, the expanded Bandera exit ramp would have provided extra capacity for the heavy volume of traffic that exits there. Most especially, the auxiliary lane would have helped to alleviate the chronic afternoon congestion on westbound Loop 1604 that occurs at the Hausman entrance by providing additional capacity and merging room between those two ramps.