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

Description
This is actually two separate projects that will modify the entrance and exit ramps along Loop 1604 between Bandera Rd. and Hausman Rd.

The first project, which is currently underway, will reverse the eastbound ramps, i.e. the existing entrance ramp from Bandera will be switched to become the exit ramp for Hausman, and the existing exit for Hausman will be 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.

The second project, which could start in 2020 or 2021, would convert the westbound exit to Bandera to a two-lane exit ramp and construct an auxiliary lane (i.e. an additional lane on the right side) on westbound 1604 from the Hausman entrance ramp to the Bandera exit. Depending on the final start date for the larger Loop 1604 expansion project in this area, this project may be cancelled.

While these are relatively small projects, they should make an appreciable improvement; see below for an explanation why.

Both of these projects are considered to be temporary "quick-fix" projects to alleviate bottlenecks until the larger Loop 1604 expansion project provides more comprehensive improvements. That project will widen Loop 1604 and will likely reverse the westbound ramps between Hausman and Bandera and relocate the eastbound entrance ramp before Hausman a little further north.

CURRENT RAMP ARRANGEMENT

PLANNED 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 will provide extra capacity for the heavy volume of traffic that exits there. Most especially, the auxiliary lane should help 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.