Press release
TxDOT (Athens) Maintenance will be doing level up work on FM 85 between SH 274 and FM 2613. A second crew plans to conduct base repairs at various locations and addressing drainage issues in the Athens area. Expect lane closures at each location with flaggers providing traffic control.
Ongoing Henderson County construction projects updates:
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 started in May and continues on schedule. 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
This project to expand US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway with a depressed median is underway. The contractor on Monday plans to begin placing concrete traffic barriers from the Frankston city limits to Oak Ridge Street in preparation of shifting traffic to the new detour pavement between County Road (CR) 303 and Oak Ridge Street. Other ongoing work includes clearing right of way from CR 4236 to the Poynor city limits, and installing a drainage culvert west of CR 303. Expect daily lane closures.
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
FM 1616 has an emergency closure for repairs Monday through Friday but work also 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
On Tuesday, June 14, a traffic switch will be made for the westbound lanes to move traffic from the left lane to the right lane. Expect delays during this work. The roadway is reduced to one lane for this project. The contractor has completed cleaning and painting the steel structure and plans to begin barrier removal this week. Overlay work is being conducted. Work under the Cedar Creek Bridge is also planned and expected to start soon. Project completion set for July.
- 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
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.