Construction is set to begin on a new bridge project near Sherman's Town Center, aimed at doubling the traffic that can cross Loy Lake Road over U.S. Highway 75. Visitors to Lake Texoma from the south will encounter heavy delays on U.S. 75 at times over the next nine months. Alternately, State Highway 289 could get travelers to the lake, as it is the parallel route. The Loy Lake bridge project starts this week and will last about 250 days. Turn lanes the length of the Loy Lake bridge will be added in both directions and should alleviate the congestion that comes along with holiday and busy shopping day traffic. From now until mid-April, the Texas Department of Transportation will be widening the Loy Lake Bridge by almost twice as much, adding a sidewalk to the bridge for pedestrians as well. From spring until late summer, the project will be periodically shutting down lanes and at times, all access to the bridge. TxDOT says to be prepared, this will snarl traffic. At one point, the traffic lights will be replaced with four-way stop signs, as upgrades are being made. Those heading to the town center from the north will want to exit at U.S. 82 at U.S. 75 and double back. When complete, about nine months from now, the $7-million bridge project will offer two new lanes of traffic, new turn lanes the length of the bridge, and just as important, new, dedicated turnaround lanes that go from frontage road to frontage road along U.S. 75.