The Texas Department of Transportation will begin work next month on two projects designed to improve travel on SH 360 through Arlington.

In north Arlington, TxDOT will make concrete repairs and resurface the main lanes of SH 360 to improve traction and reduce roadway noise for drivers traveling between the Trinity River bridge and Ave J. Further south, the state will widen SH 360 from just north of Abram Street down to Green Oaks Boulevard in south Arlington, expanding the highway from six to eight lanes to reduce traffic congestion.

The $1.3 million repair and resurfacing project is expected to be complete by this summer while the $53.4 million widening project will last through 2020, said TxDOT spokesman Val Lopez. Drivers will be able to stay up-to-date with news about lane closures through the Waze app or the I-30/SH 360 Interchange Project website, https://www.keep30360moving.org/.

The repair and resurfacing project between the Trinity River bridge and Ave J in north Arlington is a safety measure that comes with the added benefit of creating a quieter ride for drivers. TxDOT has previously used the resurfacing technique, known as diamond grinding, on sections of Interstate 20 and Interstate 35 in Fort Worth, Lopez said.

"Diamond grinding creates better traction, especially during wet weather. It provides a better driving surface as well as noise reduction," Lopez said. "It's a new procedure and we've liked the results so much that we are going to start using diamond grinding on a more widespread basis."

TXDOT will also begin work next month to widen the stretch of SH 360 that is south of the $233 million Interstate 30/SH 360 Interchange Project currently under way. An additional northbound lane and southbound lane will be added in the median area between Abram Street and Kingswood Boulevard/Green Oaks Boulevard.

"These additional lanes will address traffic congestion on State Highway 360, helping to increase mobility to and through Arlington. This will benefit not only Arlington but all of the businesses and venues along the 360 corridor," Lopez said.

As part of the project, the SH 360 northbound and southbound bridges that cross over Abram Street will be demolished and then rebuilt as four lanes each.

During construction, three lanes will remain open on both the northbound and southbound sides of SH 360 during peak drive times. Lane closures will be scheduled during off-peak hours.

TxDOT reminds drivers to obey posted speed limits and pay attention to all warning signs within the construction work zones while crews work diligently to complete the work as quickly and as safely as possible.