Many Upcoming Transportation Projects In Texas

The National Association of State Budget Officers 2017 report on all state expenditures shows that transportation again was the top capital-spending category, with $70.2 billion, up 7.6 percent from 2016.

Kristin Gordon

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced its list of the top 100 of the state’s most congested roads. The West Loop Freeway from Katy Freeway to Southwest Freeway in Harris County tops the list. The No. 2 spot is held by Interstate 35 in Travis County from U.S. 290 North to Ben White Boulevard.

Harris County’s Southwest Freeway from West Loop Freeway to South Freeway comes in at No. 3.

Fourth place goes to Woodall Rodgers Freeway in Dallas County from U.S. 75 to North Beckley Avenue. Eastex Freeway in Harris County from State Highway 288 to I-10, makes the list at No. 5. To see the list of top 100 most congested roads in the state, go HERE. The list also includes a more comprehensive examination of nearly 1,800 roadways across Texas.

The National Association of State Budget Officers 2017 report on all state expenditures shows that transportation again was the top capital-spending category, with $70.2 billion, up 7.6 percent from 2016. Federal funds accounted for $27.8 billion, or 39.6 percent, of the transportation total.

States boosted their total capital spending, including construction and major repairs to roads, buildings and other infrastructure, by 5.7 percent in fiscal year 2017 to an estimated $107 billion. There are many planned projects – here are just a few:

Grayson County wants to update two of their most dangerous intersections in the city of Sherman. One intersection is U.S. Highway 75 and U.S. Highway 82. The county wants to widen the frontage roads at the intersection to three lanes, add U-turns to the U.S. Highway 82 side and move ramps further back.

The county also wants to renovate the stretch of U.S. Highway 75 between Farm-to-Market Road 1417 and Texoma Parkway. Cost of the projects come to $162 million. 

The city of Pasadena is wrapping up the design phase on Richey Street and expects bidding for contracts to begin in March. Harris County officials will pay for half of the $12 million project to rebuild part of the street.

The work on the almost 1.5-mile stretch of four-lane Richey Street from Texas 225 to Southmore Avenue will include adding a dedicated left-turn lane, wheelchair-accessible sidewalks and a detention pond. Work will also take place on storm sewers, street lights and traffic signals.

TxDOT is conducting a $2.5 million traffic study on Parmer Lane in Cedar Park. The study will cover a 4.4-mile corridor between Ranch-to-Market (RM) Road 1431 and State Highway 45 North to determine potential roadway improvements. Plans are to add an extra lane in both directions in that section, turning it into a six-lane roadway.

The TxDOT Commission approved funding to widen Old Jacksonville Highway from four lanes to six at a cost of $52.3 million. The state has signed off on the funding, but the Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) still needs to approve the measure.

A new overpass across I-35 in Georgetown should relieve congestion at the intersection of Austin and Williams Drive and provide more direct access to Georgetown High School and SH 130 by way of FM 971. The $10.5-million project will connect Northwest Boulevard with Austin Avenue and FM 971. Construction bidding will begin in 2018. The project also includes construction of additional surface streets.

TxDOT plans to present subcontracting opportunities for highway and building construction projects in Odessa from 3:30-6 p.m. on Jan. 11 at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. TxDOT projects include the widening of U.S. Highway 285 from the Culberson County line to Ranch to Market Road 652 and from State Highway 302 to Farm to Market Road 1216 in Reeves County.

The PAVED program, or Projects Adding Value by Expanding Diversity, will be highlighted during the event. PAVED allows participants to learn about project-specific opportunities and to network with primes and subcontractors.

Those interested can register online by visiting the PAVED webpage or by contacting the Civil Rights Division at 432-416-4700.

This article originally published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc.