University Parks Drive to Close for Six Months

Waco closes a stretch of University Parks Drive for utility work tied to the Barron's Branch redevelopment.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Openings & Closings

University Parks Drive to Close for Six Months

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The closure of University Parks Drive between Washington Avenue and Bosque Boulevard began Monday and is slated to last six months. The work makes room for utility infrastructure updates as part of the broader Barron's Branch project.

Why it matters

The closure will reroute traffic through the central Waco corridor for months while the city reshapes the area near the Brazos River. The redevelopment is intended to create a park and support new private development.

The Barron's Branch redevelopment carries a $167 million construction budget, and the University Parks Drive closure is set to last six months. A handful of developers are in talks with the city, but no final agreements have been named.

The players

City of Waco

The city of Waco is the municipal government overseeing the Barron's Branch redevelopment and the road closure.

The details

Crews closed University Parks Drive fully between Washington Avenue and Bosque Boulevard to make room for utility infrastructure updates. The broader project will re-create Barron's Branch Creek, which currently flows into the Brazos River through a drainage tunnel, and rebuild or reconfigure several streets between Washington Avenue and Jefferson Avenue.

Monday: closure of University Parks Drive begins.
May 2027: the closed stretch of University Parks Drive is slated to reopen.
Spring 2029: the overall Barron's Branch project is expected to be finished.

Openings & Closings

The University Parks Drive closure is an early construction step in Waco's Barron's Branch redevelopment, which will rebuild the creek corridor and streets before new private development arrives. It signals that the city's plan has moved from proposal to active work on the ground.

Drivers using University Parks Drive between Washington Avenue and Bosque Boulevard will need alternate routes for about six months. Plan extra travel time through the area until the stretch reopens in May 2027.

The takeaway

Drivers in Waco should expect detours on University Parks Drive for roughly six months while the Barron's Branch work proceeds. Watch for the May 2027 reopening date before changing commute plans.

What happens next

The closed stretch of University Parks Drive is slated to reopen to traffic in May 2027, and the overall project is expected to continue into spring 2029.