Tag: TxDot

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. 

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 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.

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.

TxDOT in Tarrant County: Southeast Connector Project

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

TxDOT is working on a major roadway project in Tarrant County. The Southeast Connector project will reconstruct and widen I-20, I-820 and US 287, including the three major interchanges for each highway. The project will also include the creation of bicycle/pedestrian accommodations including shared-use paths and sidewalks along frontage roads and at cross-street intersections.  The total project length is 16 miles. The Southeast Connector project will require approximately 22 acres of right-of-way. TxDOT predicts that this could result in 23 residential displacements and 19 commercial displacements. The Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the final environmental assessment were made available for public review in September 2020. The next steps for the project will be right-of-way acquisition.

Map of the project from TxDOT study

TxDOT in Dallas County: I-35 East (Phase II)

~ Luke Ellis ~ Leave a comment

Since the late 1990s, TxDOT has been planning the improvement of the I-35E corridor in Dallas and Denton counties. In 2018, the first phase of the I-35E project was completed. Now, TxDOT is looking to complete the I-35E project with Phase II. These improvements are a part of a statewide strategic plan, the Texas Clear Lanes project, which aims to provide congestion relief in the five largest metro areas in the state.

The I-35E Phase II project will impact the segment of I-35E from I-635 to the Denton County line. The Phase II project will reconstruct and widen the road from six to eight lanes. Additionally, the project will improve intersections and reconstruct the two existing managed toll lanes. According to a project fact sheet, the project has $75 million allocated to acquiring Right of Way (ROW). TxDOT anticipates that construction on the project will begin in late 2021, but before then, it is likely that TxDOT will need to acquire additional ROW from Dallas County landowners.