Category: Uncategorized

FM 664 from US 287 to Westmoreland Road

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

TxDOT has two upcoming projects that will improve FM 664 in Ellis County. Although the projects are distinct, both plans are following similar timelines. The less expansive of the two projects is TxDOT’s plans for the 8 mile segment of FM 664 from US 287 to Westmoreland Road in Ovilla, Texas.

The proposed project will include reconstructing, realigning and widening the roadway. TxDOT will transform the two lane, rural roadway into a four lane, urban roadway with a raised median. Additional improvements will include the elimination of 90 degree turns and the construction of 6-foot wide sidewalks. The plans received environmental clearance in the fall of 2020. The next steps for the project are the acquisition of approximately 87 acres of right-of-way, which may displace one residential and one commercial property.

FM 664 from IH 35 East to IH 45

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

TxDOT will be making major improvements to FM 664 in Ellis County. The changes to the Ellis County roadway are occurring as two distinct TxDOT projects, although both are following similar timelines. The more expansive of the two projects is TxDOT’s plans for the segment of FM 664 from IH 35E in Red Oak to IH 45 south in Ferris.

The plans for the 9.96 mile stretch of FM 664 will expand the current two to four lane roadway into a six lane roadway. Additionally, two new interchanges and one new bypass will be built. One of the interchanges will be will be constructed at IH 35E from Red Oak to Tater Brown Road and the other will be at IH 45 from the IH 45 crossover to E. 8th Street. The new bypass will be located south of the City of Ferris in order to connect to the new interchange at IH 45.

The project received final environmental clearance in the spring of 2020. The next step for TxDOT is the acquisition of right-of-way (ROW). TxDOT is planning to acquire 164 acres of new ROW, which is anticipated to displace 17 residential structures and 10 commercial properties.

TxDOT in Nueces County – FM 70 and SH 286

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

TxDOT has an upcoming project to improve FM 70 & SH 286 in Nueces County. The proposed project will span approximately 25 miles and will be located just south of Corpus Christi and east of Bishop. TxDOT’s plans include constructing passing lanes and widening the shoulders along the roadways. TxDOT anticipates the project will receive environmental clearance in the summer of 2021. Once the project is funded and receives environmental clearance, the next step will be the acquisition of new right-of-way (ROW). TxDOT expects to need approximately 300 acres for additional ROW which is expected to displace two residences and two non-residential structures.

SH 31 Gregg County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

As they received environmental clearance in the fall of 2020, TxDOT’s Tyler District is on track to begin improvements on SH 31.The new improvements will reconstruct and expand the current two way road into a four lane, divided facility. The SH 31 project will be 20 miles in length and will start at Loop 323 in Tyler and end at FM 1639.

Since the project has received environmental clearance, the next steps are the acquisition of right of way. The project is anticipated to need 171.4 acres of new right-of way, which will likely displace 41 residences and 16 non-residential structures. Funding for the project has not yet been identified but TxDOT is tentatively expected to begin acquiring ROW in 2022.

US 90 Widening in Liberty County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

TxDOT’s Beaumont district has plans to reconstruct and widen US 90. The proposed project is 11 miles in length and will alter the corridor of US 90 from FM 563 to SH 61. The improvements will include the construction of new bridges and will widen the two lane roadway to a four lane, divided roadway. In order to accommodate these changes, the existing 120 foot right-of-way will be expanded to 250 feet. This additional right-of-way will impact properties along the corridor and may result in displacements. 

TxDOT closed public input on the project in early March 2021 and is now working on a schematic design and environmental studies for preferred alternatives. After the completion of those steps, TxDOT will seek final environmental clearance and acquire right-of-way. 

FM 1485- TxDOT in Montgomery County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

In order to improve safety and mobility, TxDOT is planning on making road improvements in Montgomery county. The 5 mile corridor of FM 1485 corridor between SH 242 and Kidd Cemetery Road is going to be widened from a two lane road to a four lane road. Additional improvements include separating the opposing lanes of traffic with a raised median and the construction of a new, 10-foot side path for pedestrians. 

The project requires approximately 46 acres of new right-of-way which is anticipated to result in 40 displacements, including residences and commercial properties. TxDOT is likely to have one more public meeting in mid-2021. By late 2021, TxDOT predicts the project will receive environmental clearance which will allow for the acquisition of the required right-of-way.

Mile 6 West- Hidalgo County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Hidalgo County Precinct #1 and TxDOT are collaborating to make improvements to Mile 6 West Road. The project spans 5.18 miles from Mile 11 to SH 107 between the cities of Weslaco and Elsa. The improvements include reconstructing the road, constructing left turn lanes and a drainage ditch, and improving existing drainage ditches. TxDOT is planning to acquire 58.1 acres of new right-of-way for the project. TxDOT anticipates ROW acquisitions to begin in the fall of 2021 after final environmental clearance is received. 

US 67 at Lake Ridge Parkway in Ellis County & Dallas County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The 1.7 mile intersection of US 67 at Lake Ridge Parkway in Ellis & Dallas counties will undergo renovations and new construction. TxDOT has proposed the construction of a grade-separated interchange which will have six 12-foot lanes, a 10-foot raised median, and Texas U-turns. The proposed improvements also include the reconstruction of US 67’s main lanes and frontage roads (from north of Shiloh Road to south of Mt. Lebanon Road). 

TxDOT is expecting to get environmental clearance in Spring 2021. After the project receives environmental clearance, right-of-way will be acquired. Roughly 60.4 acres will be condemned by TxDOT for the project and one commercial building will be displaced. ROW acquisition is anticipated to begin in the summer of 2021. Afterwards, utility relocation and construction will begin. 

TxDOT in San Antonio: US 90 from SH 211 to Loop 13

~ Luke Ellis ~ 1 Comment

Increasing traffic volumes in western San Antonio are the impetus for TxDOT’s recent proposal to improve US 90. The proposed project stretches 11.5 miles from SH 11 to Loop 13 (W. Military Drive). TxDOT has plans to expand the four‐lane roadway with intermittent frontage roads to a six‐lane expressway with one-way continuous frontage roads. The project also includes construction of direct connectors at Loop 1604 and improvements to State Highway 211, Montgomery Road, Hunt Lane, and Loop 13 intersections. Before construction can begin, TxDOT must obtain right-of-way. The project will require approximately 79 acres of right-of-way, which is anticipated to be acquired beginning in the spring of 2021.

TxDOT Project Map from October 2020

TxDOT in Starr County: SL 195

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

In order to improve safety, mobility and connectivity, TxDOT is planning the construction of a 17 mile roadway in Starr County, Texas. The new roadway will be a 4-lane divided highway connecting Rio Grande City and Roma. The project is a new-location reliever route for FM 755 and US 83 which SL 195 will connect. TxDOT anticipates the acquisition of 667 acres of right-of-way, which may possibly lead to the displacement of 1 commercial structure, 5 residential structures and 7 additional structures. The project is expected to receive environmental clearance early in 2021 and acquisition of right-of way is expected to begin in the spring of 2023.