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New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) is expected to begin construction on the Gruene Road Sewer Main Rehabilitation and Relocation Project, January 2026 and end in May 2026, weather permitting. The project, identified in NBU’s Wastewater Master Plan, will increase the capacity and reliability of wastewater service and odor control for the historic Gruene area.

The Gruene Road Sewer Main Rehabilitation and Relocation Project involves replacing an existing 12-inch sewer main with a larger 18-inch main in downtown Gruene. It also includes installing a new odor control unit along the 1200 block of Gruene Road to address existing odor issues. Additionally, NBU will replace aging 6-inch and 8-inch cast-iron siphon lines that cross the Guadalupe River at Gruene Road. The project is budgeted at $7 million.

The project is divided into two phases with specific timelines and traffic impacts as follows:

Downtown Gruene Phase – Expected: Jan. 2026 to March 2026

Traffic flow and parking will be impacted weekdays, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. through 11 p.m., as follows:

• Gruene Road: Southbound traffic will operate one-way from New Braunfels Street south to Hunter Road. Northbound access is limited to local traffic reaching the parking lot only; through-traffic is prohibited.
• Hunter Road: Street parking is prohibited between Gruene Road and New Braunfels Street. Westbound traffic may only turn left onto Gruene Road. Eastbound traffic remains unimpacted.
• New Braunfels Street: Normal traffic flow.

Overnight full closures are expected from Sunday nights through Friday mornings, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Drivers should prepare for detours as construction crews work overnight due to the following:

• Gruene Road and Hunter Road will both be subject to full road closures.
• New Braunfels Street will be reduced to one lane of two-way traffic, managed by flaggers.

Weekend traffic and parking impacts will be in effect from Friday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., as follows:

• Gruene Road: Southbound traffic is unimpacted. Northbound traffic is restricted to local access for the parking lot only; through traffic is prohibited.
• Hunter Road: Traffic flow is unimpacted in both directions, but street parking remains prohibited between Gruene Road and New Braunfels Street.

River Phase – Expected: March 2026 to May 2026

Updates and details about this phase will be provided closer to the start date. The goal is to minimize the impact on the area.

New Braunfels Utilities is committed to investing in critical infrastructure to provide reliable service and ensure the long-term health of the growing community.

Due to the nature of this project and possible weather impacts, dates and timelines are subject to change. For the latest information, visit the NBU capital improvement page at Capital Improvement, follow NBU’s social media channels, or call NBU Customer Service at 830.629.8400.

Traffic Impact Maps: