The Texas Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kathi White recently said Phase II of the project to widen US 175 from near Baxter to Larue will begin in mid-September.
The project expands US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided with a depressed median.
Phase I of construction started April 6, 2015 and has a November 2018 completion date, White said. Currently, the contractor is conducting dirt and drainage work around Loop 60E in Larue to near Baxter. Prep work is also underway in the median area on the west end of the project where a detour will be built, requiring lane closures in the near future. The speed limit in the construction zone has been set at 55 mph. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present.
The Phase II project is set to begin in mid-September. It stretches 3.4 miles from 1.1 miles east of Loop 60E at Larue southeast to 0.85 miles east of FM 315 in Poynor. A portion of this phase will be built on new location around the south side of Poynor.
The $37.8 million contract was awarded to Sundt Construction, Inc., of San Antonio.