More MoPac closures planned

Weekend repaving will speed opening of toll lanes projected for fall.

Drivers can expect more closures along MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) this weekend, as crews work to finish repaving the highway with the goal of opening the new toll lanes this fall.

The most significant closure started Friday night on northbound MoPac, which has been reduced to one lane from Enfield Road to RM 2222. That closure is expected to run through 8 a.m. Sunday.

The southbound on- and offramps on MoPac at 45th and 35th streets will also be closed all weekend.

On southbound MoPac, expect daytime closures in the right lane and far right exit lane from 45th Street to 35th Street. Those lanes will be closed from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

In addition, the center lane and right lane on southbound MoPac from 45th Street to Windsor Road will be closed from 8 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Sunday.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, which is adding a toll lane in each direction of North MoPac, hopes to have the northbound toll lane open from West Cesar Chavez to Far West Boulevard by early October. The northbound toll lane already is open between Far West and Parmer Lane.

The southbound side is further behind, with considerable paving and other work left to do. Officials have said an early November opening is the target now for the entire southbound toll lane from Parmer to West Cesar Chavez.

Contractors are rushing to wrap up the paving work before nighttime temperatures turn too chilly for proper asphalt curing.