TxDOT crews are addressing maintenance issues on the eastbound inside lane of SH 31W at the Trinity River; and on the southbound outside shoulder of Loop 7 between SH 31 and FM 2495. Later in the week crews plan to head to FM 2709 to repair base failures, and to FM 316 to apply an overlay.
Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control.
Continuing Henderson County construction projects updates:
— 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
Work to place a new overlay on this part of SH 31 should be finished later this month. The contractor is currently milling the existing surface for replacement. Expect lane closures for the duration of the project.
— 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 project expands US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided with a depressed median. A traffic switch now has eastbound motorists driving on the new detour. 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
Construction is underway on this Phase II project to 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 3.4 miles ending just east of FM 315 in Poynor. The speed limit has been set at 55 mph.
A portion of this phase will be 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.
— 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
Work is set to start this month to add shoulders on FM 315. Drivers should anticipate two-way traffic throughout the project limits with daily lane closures starting October 19, 2015. Completion expected in summer 2016.
— FM 316 Widening Project
- Limits: From FM 1256 south to FM 3080
- Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt
No work is planned this week on this widening project.
— FM 317 Widening Project
- Limits: From FM 314 to FM 607
- Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt
Clean up activities continue on this project to widen FM 317 from FM 314 to FM 607. Expect lane closures.
— Off-System Bridge Replacement Project
- Limits: Cardinal Drive at Little Duncan Creek in Murchison
- Contractor: Hartbeat Construction of Tyler
- Cost: $314,919.44
Cardinal Drive is closed to through traffic as a new bridge is built. Completion set for late November.
When can we expect FM 317 East, to be open at the Fish and Game bridge?
I keep getting the run around on this issue myself. No one seems to know anything other than “it’s going to be awhile, if not years before it’s done”. That’s not an acceptable answer. It’s very inconvenient for those of us who live on 317 to have to drive so far out of the way to get places. I’ve heard that there’s some kind of issue between the Fish and Game Lake and the state as to who will pay for repairs. Not sure why the state doesn’t just fix the road, and then deal with money issues later.
Also been told that the lake doesn’t really care about the road being fixed — they don’t need it to get to the lake (unless they live on the other side and have to come all the way around), so it’s not a priority for them.
I’m seriously considering trying to contact people who live out here and see if we can’t band together to make our voices heard.