Does your commute often take you down Matlock Road near Interstate 20? Crews will be working over the next two months on repairs that will make your drive smoother and extend the lifespan of this highly traveled south Arlington roadway.

Work to replace broken concrete panels on Matlock Road between Interstate 20 and Mayfield Road began on Monday, February 26. Drivers should expect various lane closures through April as the concrete panels that are in the worst condition are removed and replaced. A majority of the work will be in the northbound lanes, although some work will be done on southbound Matlock as well.

Cracks in the street can allow water to seep below the roadway, which can create potholes and rapidly deteriorating street conditions. The City of Arlington has made small repairs in this section of roadway at residents' request, but conditions now require more extensive repairs, said Richard Carmichael, Public Works and Transportation field operations manager.

"Water is the enemy of the street. That is why it's so important to keep those cracks sealed," Carmichael said. "The more cracks in the road, the more issues we have long-term."

The Matlock Road concrete panel repair project, estimated to cost between $400,000 and $500,000, is funded by the Street Maintenance Sales Tax.

The City of Arlington has partnered with Waze to give drivers the best experience possible to get around town. Drivers can download Waze for free at www.waze.com/get for iOS and Android and see real-time traffic, find optimal routes, avoid road closures and more.

Drivers looking to avoid the construction can use the Center Street flyover bridge east of Matlock Road.