CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Highways can be a dangerous even without major construction taking place. With the new Harbor Bridge introducing a permanent change in our traffic flow it's good to know your route before you're on it.
"So, we ask commuters to please pay attention to the construction signs, slow down and follow the posted speed limits because this is an active construction zone," spokesperson with Flatiron-Dragados, the builders of the new Harbor Bridge, Lynn Allison said.
3NEWS caught up with one driver, Melanie Ray, visiting North Beach for the first time who said the cones and signs were a little jarring.
"It was definitely difficult driving in all the construction and everything," Ray said "I feel like the lanes were all over the place."
Ray came to visit from Austin and is no stranger to traffic, but said despite the signs she did feel nervous with the number of detours and closures in place.
"It's not super clear, you know my GPS is telling me go this way, but then there is a lane closure so I couldn't get off there and I missed my exit," she said.
Allison told 3NEWS the best way to simplify things is by following the following posted sign. It explains the lanes you need to be looking for so you can safely be in them when you need to be.
"You stay in the middle to go toward 181 or North Beach, stay on the left to go downtown and you stay in the right to go to IH-37 towards Calallen IH-37 North," she said.
Allison acknowledged there will be some growing pains these first couple days while drivers are getting used to the changes.
In the meantime, police and traffic control will be set up to help urge drivers to slow down and be alert in these areas.
"We please ask commuters, tourists, guests slowdown in the construction area it will take a couple days to get adjusted to this new alignment," she said.
This portion of the project could be finished up by the summer.