TxDOT Update for the Week of June 6

txdotPress release

TxDOT (Athens) Maintenance plans to finish applying an overlay on FM 2010, then move to FM 1803 between SH 31 and FM 317. A second crew plans to conduct base repairs at various locations on FM 2494. Expect lane closures at each location with flaggers providing traffic control.

Henderson County ongoing construction projects updates:

FM 317 Repair Project
  • Limits: .At Athens Fish and Game Lake Dam
  • Contractor: Fritcher Construction
  • Cost: $446,216.00

About 30 percent of the necessary work to repair this Athens/Henderson County roadway has been conducted since construction started May 9. The road closed in March 2015 due to a flood-related washout about three miles east of SH 31. Repairs should take about three months to complete, weather permitting. The plans for the permanent repairs have been coordinated with the Corp of Engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

SH 31 Repair Project
  • Limits: .09 miles west of FM 317 eastward to .34 miles west of FM 773
  • Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt
  • Cost: $3.6 million

The contractor continues to address seeding and vegetation on this project that consists of milling the existing surface and placing a new overlay on the roadway. Work should be completed soon.

US 175 Widening Project (Phase I)
  • Limits: 0.1 miles southeast of FM 804 near Baxter southeast to 1.1 miles east of Loop 60E at Larue
  • Contractor: A.L. Helmcamp, Inc. and Big Creek Construction
  • Cost: $39.2 million

The eastern portion of Loop 60 is closed through July for construction of the new westbound mainlanes on this project that expands US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided with a depressed median. Drivers should expect one lane carrying two-way traffic throughout the project limits as well as occasional day time lane closures. Drivers on adjacent county roads and FM 804 should anticipate a change in traffic flow due to the detour now requiring two-way traffic on US 175. Dirt and drainage work around Loop 60E in Larue to near Baxter is ongoing. The speed limit in the construction zone has been set at 55 mph so slow down because traffic fines double when workers are present. Phase I construction started April 6, 2015 and has an anticipated completion date in November 2018.

US 175 Widening Project (Phase II)
  • Limits: 1.1 miles east of Loop 60B to 0.85 mile east of FM 315
  • Contractor: Sundt Construction, Inc., of San Antonio
  • Cost: $37.8 million

The contractor continues dirt work around FM 315 south of Poynor as well as drainage work throughout the project. As part of the new highway construction, a short stretch of CR 4401 has been permanently closed from the intersection of US 175’s new eastbound lanes to the new right of way. The rest of CR 4401 will remain open and can be accessed from CR 4345/Camp Road.

This Phase II project will expand US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided with a depressed median. Drivers should anticipate two-way traffic throughout the project limits which stretch 4.7 miles ending just east of FM 315 in Poynor. The speed limit has been set at 55 mph. A portion of this phase is being built on new location around the south side of Poynor. This like Phase I, is a mobility project to add capacity and improve safety, and includes adding one lane in each direction. It is a two-year project.

US 175 Widening Project (Phase III)
  • Limits: 0.85 miles east of FM 315 in Poynor, southeast to .5 miles NW of SH 155 at Frankston
  • Contractor: A.L. Helmcamp, Inc.
  • Cost: $27.6 million

Weather permitting, on Monday, June 6, the contractor for the US-175 Phase III project plans to conduct paving operations which requires a lane closure from just east of SH 155 in Frankston to County Road 303. Traffic control will be provided by flaggers. The paving is preparing a detour to allow for a traffic switch on Tuesday, June 7, to shift traffic to the news constructed detour pavement along the south shoulder of US 175 between County Road 303 and Murchison Street.

This project to expand US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway with a depressed median is underway. The contractor is clearing right of way from Poynor to County Road 303 on the north side of US 175. Other work getting started includes the installation of drainage structures near CR 303; and shoulder work on eastbound US 175 in preparation for a traffic shift between CR 303 and Frankston. Expect daily lane closures from CR 303 to Burks Street in Frankston. One of the westbound lanes of US 175 will also be closed from the east side of the SH 155 intersection to CR 303.

FM 315/FM 1616 Widening Project
  • Limits: From FM 314S to CS End at County Road 4325, 4224, etc.
  • Contractor: Big Creek Construction, LTD, of Hewitt, Texas
  • Cost: $3.07 million

On FM 1616, work continues to extend the cross structures. Drivers should anticipate one-way traffic throughout the project limits with daily lane closures. FM 1616 is expected to be completed this summer. Final work is being performed on FM 315 which has an anticipated completion date of mid-summer.

SH 31 Bridge Painting Project

Westbound at Trinity River/Eastbound at Cedar Creek

  • Limits: From just east of Cedar Creek to just west of the Trinity River
  • Contractor: Olympus Painting Contractors Inc., of Clearwater, Florida
  • Cost: $2.3 million

The contractor has completed cleaning and painting the steel structure and plans to begin barrier removal this week. Overlay work is slated to start the week of June 6. Work under the Cedar Creek Bridge is also planned and expected to start soon. Project completion set for July.

FM 316 Widening Project
  • Limits: From FM 1256 south to FM 3080
  • Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt

The contractor continues work to backfill around structures and pavement edges on this widening project. Expect lane closures.