Construction on Loop 288 in front of Golden Triangle Mall is now targeted for completion in August, despite a prediction last month that all six lanes would be open around the July 4 holiday, a Texas Department of Transportation spokesman said Friday.

Five of the six lanes — including all three southbound lanes — are now open to traffic from Brinker Road to Interstate 35E, one of Denton’s major retail areas.

The other lane remains closed as crews finish striping work, said Tony Hartzel, a TxDOT spokesman.

The work is part of a three-year, $39 million state project to widen the loop to six lanes from I-35E north to U.S. Highway 380. A state contractor must finish the project by Sept. 27 or face possible fines.

Last month, TxDOT spokeswoman Cynthia White said that workers were putting “finishing touches” on the loop from I-35E to McKinney Street and that all six lanes in that area could open by July 4 or soon after.

That prediction proved too optimistic.

Workers are still placing traffic signals on the loop at Spencer Road and at Morse Street, and finding the right locations for the poles is taking longer than expected, Hartzel said.

Workers also continue laying sod in the area, he said.

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com.