Sponsored by Weinstein Law/Weinstein Real Estate
By Michael V. Hannigan
Henderson County Commissioners Court instituted a 28-day burn ban Tuesday morning.
Henderson County Fire Marshal Shane Renberg told commissioners the county’s average Keetch-Byram Drought Index score is 624. A burn ban is recommended when the KBDI score is above 575.
Press release
TxDOT (Athens) Maintenance plans to conduct base repairs on FM 316 and address routine maintenance on roads around the county. Expect lane closures with flaggers directing traffic.
Updates to continuing projects around Henderson County include:
Repair work is progressing on schedule for this roadway/bridge in an effort to get it open to traffic again. The road closed in March 2015 due to a flood-related washout about three miles east of SH 31. Repairs are expected to be completed later this summer, weather permitting. The plans for the permanent repairs have been coordinated with the Corp of Engineers and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
The eastern portion of Loop 60 is closed through the summer 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.
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 remains open with access 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.
On Monday, the contractor expects to begin clearing right of way near the Poynor city limits. Additionally, earthwork operations continue from the city limits to County Road (CR) 303 as does the installation of drainage culverts west of CR 303. Expect daily lane closures. This project is expanding US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway with a depressed median.
The construction widening project is ongoing with work to extend the cross structures. One-way traffic can be expected 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.
The next phase of work on this project will occur under the bridges once the ground dries. Work on the bridge decks has been completed on both the westbound Trinity River Bridge and the eastbound Cedar Creek Bridges.
TxDOT (Athens) Maintenance plans to perform base repair work on FM 1615 followed by FM 316, and then FM 2709. Expect lane closures at each location with flaggers directing traffic.
Continuing projects in Henderson County include:
Thursday, the Henderson County Fire Marshal’s office released statistics for the first six months of this year:
“These numbers are normal at this time with one exception. Illegal Dumping in the county has doubled from this point last year,” the announcement on the Fire Marshal’s Office Facebook page read. “Although we are continuing to find new ways to combat this problem, we still need the public’s help. If you see anyone commit illegal dumping or find an illegal dump, please report it to our office as soon as possible. These cases are investigated immediately and generally the violators are held responsible. Thank you for helping keeping our county clean.”
You can contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 903-675-615
Press release
TxDOT (Athens) Maintenance, along with the Special Jobs Crew, continues mill and inlay operations working on Business (BU) 19 from the Downtown Square going north to Loop 7. Work then moves to BU 31 from US 175 westward to Loop 7. Expect lane closures at each location with flaggers providing traffic control.
Ongoing Henderson County construction projects updates: