Open for business

At around 10:30 Thursday morning, a white Pontiac Grand Am was the first car to zip through a green light heading south on JBS Parkway through the intersection of JBS and Business Interstate 20, and he did it three stories in the air.

It was the first non-construction-related car to cross over the overpass that rises over the train tracks and BI-20 to connect JBS Parkway with Interstate 20. It took two years to build the project.

"This opens a new entrance to the city," Glen Larum, public information officer for TxDOT said. "I expect it to be the route of choice - even people coming from the west side going to the mall or to UTPB will want to use it."

A little more touch up work is yet to be completed, and there is still some sidewalk paving to do underneath the interchange, but the roads are ready to use, which brings a sense of closure, Larum said.

"Exactly two years ago in July we started working south of the railroad tracks. It's a perfect circle; it's nice closure," he said.

Larum said the interchange completes the plan of connecting the developing area of south JBS Parkway, which is home to Telvista and Family Dollar Texas Distribution Center, with north JBS Parkway.

One Telvista employee used the interchange during lunch, and said that the overpass eases his commute to work.

"I went to Texas Burger for lunch, and it took me three minutes to get there," said Alex Molina, facilities support clerk at Telvista. "There used to be a detour at JBS before getting to work so that I had to get on the I-20 service road, then take back roads, then cross the tracks - and oncoming traffic made it hard to cross - and dangerous." 

Businesses under the corners of the overpass have felt the brunt of lane closures, orange barrels and neon-vested workers.

But Mehul Domadia, owner and general manager of Quality Inn and Suites at the northeast corner of BI-20 service road and JBS Parkway, said the interchange will make a lot of things easier for him and his business.

"It's a lot easier to give directions to customers and of course it will bring in more customers," Domadia said. "They did really fast work. They should've had a ribbon cutting, I was expecting one. It was a massive, huge project."

Should you take it

>> East and westbound drivers should use caution when merging with Business Interstate 20 traffic.

>> The interchange is now the main route from BI-20 to reach JBS Parkway, unless you take a frontage road.