TxDOT Update for the Week of May 16

txdotTxDOT Maintenance plans to conduct routine maintenance on FM 2010 to prepare it for summer seal coat. A second crew plans to conduct ditch maintenance on FM 317 between FM 314 and FM 315 before moving to FM 804 at Alligator Creek. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control.

Ongoing projects include:

FM 317 Repair Project

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

Work to repair this Athens/Henderson County roadway got underway May 9. The road was 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).

Continue reading “TxDOT Update for the Week of May 16”

Phase III of US 175 project begins

txdotTxDOT press release

The third construction project to expand US 175 from two lanes to four lanes from Baxter to Frankston through Henderson and Anderson counties is now under way. The contractor is A.L. Helmcamp, Inc., of Buffalo, Texas.

The Phase III project starts 0.85 miles east of FM 315 in Poynor and travels southeast for 3.7 miles to SH 155 in Frankston. A pre-construction meeting between TxDOT, Helmcamp and utility contractors was held Friday, April 29, to discuss the project timeline, methods of operation, safety and other important details of the job. The contractor has been allotted 571 working days to complete the project.

Continue reading “Phase III of US 175 project begins”

Sheriff Ray Nutt to retire; Commissioners appoint Botie Hillhouse sheriff

https://www.facebook.com/hendersoncountynow/videos/828381197306998/

 

By Michael V. Hannigan/HCN

Tuesday morning, Henderson County Commissioners’ Court accepted the retirement of Sheriff Ray Nutt effective May 31.

Commissioners appointed Chief Deputy and Sheriff-elect Botie Hillhouse to take his place on June 1.

Nutt, who has been sheriff since 2009, is stepping down to spend more time with his family.

“This is a tough agenda item here,” said County Judge Richard Sanders. “Sheriff Nutt has done a great job for many years here in the county. He’s really made some headway in a lot of areas of need in our county and it is kind of tough to see him leave.”

Continue reading “Sheriff Ray Nutt to retire; Commissioners appoint Botie Hillhouse sheriff”

TxDOT update for Week of May 2

txdotTxDOT Athens Maintenance resumes base repair work on FM 2010. A second crew plans to conduct level up work on FM 1803. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control.

Continuing projects:

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 this month.

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

This project which will expand US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway with a depressed median is expected to start later this spring. Additional information is coming soon.

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 as well with an anticipated completion also in 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

Work to clean and paint the existing steel structure over the Trinity River continues. Work under the Cedar Creek Bridge is 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

No work is scheduled for this widening project.

Commissioners’ approve final jail payment; County now debt free

IMG_20160426_092648aHenderson County Commissioners’ Court approved the final payment on the jail bond Tuesday morning. The move officially makes the county debt free.

In a story HCN published April 14, Pct. 2 Commissioner Wade McKinney explained he has been on Commissioners’ Court for 17 years and was with the county four years before that, and he doesn’t remember a time when the county wasn’t in debt.

“It’s a fantastic feeling,” McKinney said. “You feel more in control of your destiny.”

Tuesday, Pct. 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence said, “I’m proud of what we done. I’m looking forward to lowering tax rates this fall.”

Henderson County streamed live video from the meeting as commissioners voted. Please watch below.

https://www.facebook.com/hendersoncountynow/videos/820914704720314/