New Lane Closures Could Snarl Amarillo Traffic All Week

How's your drive been lately in Amarillo? I know the answer to that one. Very rhetorical question. There seems to be SO much construction going on around the city right now. It doesn't seem to matter where you go; you're running into lane closures, cones, etc.

It's slowing the city down an immense amount and frustrating drivers left and right. I used to take Bell home from work. However, I shifted my route because that lane closure at Bell & Hillside backs up traffic for what feels like a mile. Well, get ready for another shift this weekend.

S.W. 45th To Experience Traffic Shift

There's a project going on at S.W. 45th Ave, and it's going to get even messier and more congested. Consider this your warning to avoid it if you're able to, because it's going to be a relatively slow go for the weekend.

They are shutting down the westbound lanes on S.W. 45th Ave and turning the area into a two-lane traffic area. That means only one lane will be open going in each direction, which will lead to a lot of backed-up traffic and slow travel, so if you must travel down it, you might add a little time to your commute.

How Long Will This Be Shut Down

Crews expect it to remain this way through the following week, which means driving into work is going to take a whole lot longer without an alternate route. Yes, it's going to be a frustrating go for a while.

What are they doing? Well, that's the good news, I think. They are going to mill the existing road surface so they can lay down a new asphalt surface. To be honest, that road has needed this for a while, so while it's frustrating, it'll be worth it in the long run.