TX: US-181 Harbor Bridge now OPEN

[rickmastfan67]

Just the SB lanes, but the bridge is now finally open partially!  Well, it will be this afternoon on the 28th.

This will also affect TX-35.

Harbor Bridge Project announces the opening of the new Harbor Bridge US 181 southbound lanes, direct connector to IH 37, and second loop ramp connecting to the Uptown area. The new Harbor Bridge southbound lanes will open, and the old Harbor bridge southbound lanes will permanently close on June 28, 2025.

CORPUS CHRISTI – Beginning, Saturday, June 28 in the early afternoon, commuters heading southbound on US 181 from Portland and North Beach will be switched onto the New Harbor Bridge as crews begin permanently closing southbound lanes on the old Harbor Bridge. Commuters should plan for temporary delays and slow-rolling traffic from noon to 2 pm during the transition.

Commuters are urged to proceed slowly and to follow new overhead signage for the following routes:

Motorists heading southbound on US 181 will continue straight to continue southbound on SH 286.

Motorists heading southbound on US 181 to northbound IH 37 will take the first marked exit to the newly opened direct connector ramp.

Motorists heading southbound on US 181 to Staples Street, Leopard Street, and the Uptown area will take the second signed exit to the newly opened loop ramp. -see attached map

Motorists heading southbound on US 181 towards the Bayfront area will follow a temporary detour to take the first signed exit to the direct connector for northbound IH 37, immediately exit to Nueces Bay Blvd, take the turnaround to enter southbound IH 37 towards the Bayfront. The detour will be in place until connectivity to the old Harbor Bridge is removed. -see attached map

Local media and the HBP website will be updated immediately upon opening the new bridge.

A traffic advisory announcement for opening the new Harbor Bridge northbound lanes will be posted soon.

Access to the pedestrian shared use path will open on the southside of the project at Lake Street once the traffic switch for the northbound opening is complete.

For information about all current and upcoming lane closures related to the Harbor Bridge Project, visit www.harborbridgeproject.com.

https://harborbridgeproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/HBP-Announcement-for-Opening-new-Harbor-Bridge-Southbound-Lanes-06.25.25-combined-with-maps.pdf

Also, I-37 needs to have all it's exits in that area reconfigured too.  Not 100% if I-37 will continue to end where it currently does however.

[rickmastfan67]

[yakra]

https://github.com/TravelMapping/HighwayData/pull/8470

All pretty straightforward, except the I-37 terminus got a bit tricky.
The Statewide planning Map and grid map have the 37-181 transition at a point N of Carrizo St.
Shapefiles meanwhile show I-37 all the way to the 37S->181N ramp at the old bridge, just about exactly the existing terminus in the HB.
On AARoads, Chris posted a schematic (PDF here). If we take the non-Interstate-grade looking RIRO at Tancahua St to be the end, that's the most de minimis change from what's in the HB now; within the footprint of the existing interchange & not even newsworthy.

Other points and labels near the S end could probably use a cleanup, but I'll hold off on that until the dust settles and the real exit numbers become known.