Tag: condemnation

North US 59 Loop – Webb County

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

In April 2021, TxDOT advised the public that the draft environmental assessment had been released for the US 59 project in Webb County. The project is approximately 5.9 miles in length and spans from International Boulevard to East Corridor Road. The improvements will transform the roadway into an urban interstate expressway, with three 12-foot lanes in each direction, a center concrete barrier, shoulders and on/off ramps. Additional improvements will include eight storm water detention ponds and sidewalks. The project will require the acquisition of approximately 192 acres of new right-of-way and could potentially displace two commercial properties. Before acquiring ROW, TxDOT must receive final environmental clearance. Project construction will be conducted in two phases, the first of which is estimated to begin letting in September 2022.

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 Lubbock: Loop 88 Segments 1 & 2

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

TxDOT is in the process of constructing a new state highway in Lubbock. The proposed Loop 88 bypass will be a controlled access facility consisting of a six-lane divided freeway (three lanes in each direction) with two-lane frontage roads. The Loop 88 project is approximately 37 miles long and will be constructed in four segments. Segment 3, which TxDOT is currently acquiring right-of-way for, will be the first to be completed. Segments 1 and 2 will follow.

Segment 1 begins at the intersection of US 84 and FM 2641 and connects with the beginning of Segment 2 at State Highway 114. Segment 2 stretches to the intersection of US 62 and US 82 at the beginning of Segment 3. The length of Segment 1 and 2 is approximately 16.05 miles. Segments 1 and 2 received final Environmental Assessment in the fall of 2020. The next step will be right-of-way acquisitions which are predicted to begin in 2022. The project will need approximately 850 acres of new right-of-way and is anticipated to displace 12 residential properties.

Permian 2 Katy Pipeline (P2K)

~ Luke Ellis ~ 3 Comments

Sempra LNG & Midstream and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP are jointly developing the Permian 2 Katy Pipeline (P2K). The proposed pipeline will connect the Permian Basin to the Texas Gulf Coast and Mexico. The pipelines will harvest natural gas from the Waha Oil Fields near Pecos in Reeves and Ward counties. One of the terminal points will be southeast of Katy, while the other terminus will travel south of Rosenberg to the Houston Ship Channel. The project lists the potential benefit of shipping the exports to Mexico or beyond, given the demand for natural gas supplies. The pipeline will be 42-inches and 36-inches in diameter

In April 2018, the pipeline received its initial permit issued from the Railroad Commission of Texas. The permit lists the following counties that will be impacted by this pipeline: Austin, Burnet, Crane, Irion, Lee, McCulloch, Menard, Pecos, Reagan, Reeves, San Saba, Schleicher, Upton, Waller, Washington, Wharton, and Williamson. The pipeline is projected to be up and running by 2020, Quarter 3.

San Antonio Road Funds

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

In May of 2017, the voters of San Antonio approved the six propositions of the $850 million bonds offered by San Antonio. The bonds will be used to invest in the infrastructure of the city, such as sidewalks, parks, drainage improvements, and roads. One of the projects will include improvements to the Broadway corridor, renovating the Hemisfair street grid, as well as some pedestrian bridges near Hardberger Park. The Hemisfair Park Streets projects will reconstruct Hemisfair boulevard and is expected to begin construction in June of 2019. Broadway Street Corridor is also expected to undergo improvements thanks to the approved bonds, with construction beginning in December of 2018.

South Bexar County will also benefit from the city’s approved bonds. Highland Oaks roads will undergo significant construction improvements. Eight streets will be constructed. They will have 12-foot lanes, with 4-foot paved shoulders. The engineer for the project predicts that the road construction project should be completed by fall of 2019.

Texas Department of Transportation’s Plans for Loop 9

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

In 2014, Texas Department of  Transportation proposed the construction of a six-lane frontage road system between I-35E and I-45 through Dallas and Ellis Counties, Texas. The project will be constructed in three phases and TxDot will begin engineering and environmental studies for the section of Loop 9 from I-35 to I-45 (Corridor B) first. According to the TxDot, this initial section is approximately 9.5 miles in length and is expected to cost about $710 million.

Various public meetings have been held regarding Loop 9. A typical right-of-way for the Loop 9 project would vary from approximately 384 to 548 feet in width. Currently, TxDot predicts that due to the right-of-way acquisitions there will be at least 25 residential areas displacements, 7 commercial displacements and 68 other facilities such as carports, storage sheds, etc. displaced by the new frontage road. According to our records, TxDot has not yet finalized the route and those who will be affected. This is an ongoing project, and TxDot predicts that Phase 1 could be completed by spring of 2022.

SEC_StudyArea_A

Western Regional Economic Project – Transmission Line

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Entergy Texas has plans for new transmission line in Montgomery and Walker Counties, Texas. Entergy has begun the filing process with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. This line is part of the Western Regional Economic Project designed to help support population growth in Texas. The new 230 kV transmission line is expected to be constructed by mid-2020 between the Lewis Creek Substation near Willis, Texas with one of the endpoints as either: A new Rocky Creek Substation west of Huntsville, Texas or a new Quarry Substation north of Huntsville, Texas. The new Rocky Creek or Quarry to Lewis Creek will require approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas through a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity application. Currently, they are still debating the route option. You can check the possible routes here.

Entergy - Western Regional Economic Project

New Epic Pipelines

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Three companies have teamed up to build the largest pipeline since 2008. The EPIC pipeline will stretch approximately 730 miles long from the Permian Basin Shale field to the Corpus Christi region. “EPIC” stands for Eagle Ford, Permian, Ingleside, and Corpus. The pipeline is projected to transport up to 440,000 barrels per day of crude oil.  The three companies developing the EPIC pipeline are TexStar from San Antonio, Ironwood Midstream Energy Partners which is a Texas-based midstream company, and Connecticut-based commodities trader Castleton Commodities International. The EPIC pipeline will run a “batch system,” which means it will transport and store two types of crude from the Permian and one from the Eagle Ford. Construction is set to be completed by March 2019, two years after this pipeline was announced.

Epic Y Grade Pipeline LP also recently announced a new NGL line that will run for 650 miles and connect the Permian and Eagle Ford regions to Gulf Coast refiners, petrochemical companies, and export markets. This line is expected to run parallel to the 730-mile pipeline. Orla, Benedum, and Corpus Christi are some of the origin points the companies have announced as destinations for the line. Epic is actively acquiring rights of way. This pipeline is expected to be completed in 2019.

EPIC - 650 mi, 2 lines

Valero Energy Corporation and Magellan Midstream Partners Announce New Pipeline

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

V-Tex Logistics, LLC owned by Valero Energy Corporation has announced that it will jointly build a new pipeline with the Magellan Pipeline Company, owned by Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. The new pipeline will span about 135 miles from Houston to Hearne, Texas. This 16 inch pipeline will be assisted by a separate V-Tex Logistics, LLC 12 inch pipeline that will stretch 70 miles to connect the new terminals in Robertson County and in Williamson County. Representatives for Valero have already begun survey activity for the V-Tex 70-mile pipeline passing through Williamson and Milam counties. The 70-mile pipeline will impact Robertson, Milam, and Williamson counties. This project is expected to be completed in 2019.