FM 529 in Harris and Waller Counties

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing to widen FM 529 from SH 99 to FM 362 in Harris and Waller Counties. The proposed project involves widening the two-land roadway to a six-lane roadway with four-foot outside shoulders and open ditches. The improvements would require approximately 109 acres of additional right-of-way (ROW) and stretch 12.2 miles in length.  This project could potentially displace one commercial business and one non-residential structure while also affecting several other properties with smaller takings. TxDOT has held two public meetings to gather input of the public on this roadway issue. ROW acquisition and construction is estimated to begin within the next two years.

FM 428 in Collin County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing to improve FM 428 from Dallas Parkway to SH 289 (Preston Road) in Collin County, Texas. The project consists of the realignment and widening of FM 428 from Dallas Parkway to SH 289 (Preston Road) within the City of Celina for a distance of approximately 1.8 miles. The proposed improvements would include a four 12-foot-wide lanes (ultimate six) with an 18-foot-wide raised median, and 10-foot-wide sidewalks along both sides of the road within a variable right-of-way (ROW) width ranging from 138- to 348 feet. This would require 18 acres of new ROW, and could potentially displace three residents and one non-residential building.  There will be a virtual public meeting from February 10th, 2022 until February 25th, 2022 accessible through the project’s online project page on the TxDOT website.  There is also an in-person option on February 10th at 6pm at the Celina Campus (2505 Kinship Parkway Celina, Texas 75009) of Collin College in Room 110. 

Reimagine I-10

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) conducted an advanced planning study for the I-10 corridor from the New Mexico State Line south to FM 3380 (Aguilera International Highway) in EL Paso county. According to TxDOT, the results of the study identified the need for improvements in the corridor; as a result, TxDOT has sectioned off the proposed improvements into four segments. It is estimated that 700 parcels of land are to be affected by the totality of this project.  Segment 2, which runs through Downtown El Paso was determined to be of the highest priority and will be moving along faster than the other 3 segments.  Even so, segment 2 is still in its earlier phases of development as it is now refining the preferred alternatives and developing the environmental document. According to the project schedule, TxDOT expects to have final environmental approval by 2024.  

FM 1387 in Ellis County

~ Luke Ellis ~ 2 Comments

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to expand FM 1387 from North Midlothian Parkway to FM 664 in Ellis County. The existing right of way (ROW) varies from 80 ft. to 100 ft. wide while the proposed ROW varies from 125 ft. to 140 ft. wide. It is estimated that an approximate 200 parcels will be affected by this ROW expansion.  According to the project’s timeline released at its second public meeting in September 2020, the project recently received environmental clearance, and is currently obtaining the necessary right of way.  

Southeast Connector

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is planning to make improvements at the interchanges at I-820, I-20 and US 287 in Tarrant County. These include short-term and long-term roadway and operational improvements on the each of the three interchanges that are within the 16.5 miles of the project’s study limits.

The improvements would require an additional 22.6 acres of right of way, along with 3.3 acres of permanent easements. The project would cause the displacement of 23 residences and 19 non-residential structures. According to TxDOT’s timeline found in their public meeting presentation that was held in June 2020, ROW acquisition is currently ongoing until 2023 while construction is anticipated to begin sometime this winter.

US 59 Loop Upgrade

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will be widening and reconstructing US 59 in Laredo through the ongoing project known as the US 59 Loop upgrade. The project will be constructed in 3 separate phases; TxDOT has completed the environmental study for phases 1 and 2 of this project. There is a separate ongoing study being done for the 3rd phase of this project. The improvements will take place across a distance of 7.198 miles from International Boulevard to the existing interchange of US 59/SL 20 and BU-59Z. The improvements include six 12-foot wide travel lanes, three 12-foot wide travel lanes, several new overpasses, and much more.

According to TxDOT’s project page, phases 1 and 2 will require approximately 192 acres of new right-of-way (ROW). No residential displacements are anticipated, but 2 commercial displacement are expected.  TxDOT held a virtual public hearing for phases 1 and 2 in April, and are now currently in the process of acquiring the new ROW.  Phase 1, the most rapidly moving of all phase, is set to let for construction in September 2022.

SH 72 in DeWitt County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing to widen and reconstruct State Highway (SH) 72 from Farm-to-Market (FM) 237 to United States Highway (US) 87 in DeWitt County. The improvements include one 12-foot-wide lane in each direction, a 4-foot-wide flush median between oncoming lanes, and 10-foot-wide shoulders.

According to TxDOT’s project page, approximately 55.26 acres of proposed right-of-way (ROW) will be acquired across the project’s total length of 14 miles.  It is possible that up to 115 parcels will be affected with the potential displacements of 2 non-residential structures. TxDOT held an open house in February 2019 and is now in the process of acquiring ROW.

US 377 Denton

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to reconstruct and widen US 377 in Denton County.  The proposed project involves the full reconstruction of the existing two-lane rural roadway to a four-way divided highway with sidewalk from south of FM 1171 to north of Crawford Road. The new right-of-way (ROW) would be 140 feet wide which would require approximately 54.6 acres of additional ROW. According to TxDOT’s timeline from their virtual public meeting held in November 2020, ROW acquisition began early this year and will continue into 2022.

FM 548 in Kaufmann and Rockwall Counties

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has proposed a widening and reconstruction of FM 548 within Kaufmann and Rockwall counties. The overall project has been divided into two segments. Segment 1 would expand the current two-lane roadway to a six-lane divided urban minor arterial from US 80 to Windmill Farms Boulevard, and segment 2 would expand the current two-lane rural roadway to a four-lane divided urban arterial (six-lane ultimate) from Windmill Farms Boulevard to SH 205. The existing right-of-way (ROW) width is approximately 100 feet wide while the proposed ROW width is approximately 122 feet wide. The improvements would require approximately 63.4 acres of new ROW and 8.01 acres of proposed permanent drainage easement. According to TxDOT, one vacant non-residential structure will potentially be displaced.  It is estimated that an approximate 115 parcels are to be affected by condemnation. Right of way acquisition is currently underway with construction anticipated to begin in March of 2025.  

The green line displays the limits and route of the proposed project.

SH 105 in San Jacinto, Montgomery, and Liberty Counties

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has proposed to reconstruct and widen State Highway (SH) 105 from 10th Street in Conroe to Business 105 in Montgomery, San Jacinto and Liberty counties. The total project cost is estimated to be $175 million and is State and federally funded. The existing SH 105 consists of (generally) a two-lane undivided roadway with 11-foot outside shoulders. The proposed project would include widening to a four-land roadway with a continuous turn land, constructing pedestrian and bicyclist accommodations, and converting the open ditch to curb-and-gutter. The improvements would require approximately 45 acres of additional right of way (ROW). According to TxDOT, displacements of businesses and residences are anticipated. ROW acquisition is currently underway.