Lindale Relief Route Draws Support, Concerns

LINDALE — There’s growing concern in Lindale over the latest leg of Toll 49. Advocates say the new road helps take away traffic congestion. But KETK reports some Lindale taxpayers are worried the road will take away something more important.

The Lindale Relief Route is an extension of Toll 49 north of Interstate 20. It will go around the west side of Lindale and connects to Highway 69 north of the city, giving drivers an alternate route around Lindale. TxDOT’s Randy Hopmann says, “It kind of snakes around different human impacts that were identified as well as environmental that were identified.” Some residents offer comments such as, “I think 49 was a good idea,” and, “I like the old part that’s already existing; it helps us a lot with time into Tyler.”

But some Lindale residents are not too happy about this new addition. Some will lose parts of their property. Hopmann says, “We’ve been under study for many, many years and those impacted property owners felt like they were in a difficult position.” The North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) will completely take over the project once it’s environmentally cleared.

Hopmann says if landowners do not accept the state’s appraised value of their land, they can negogiate it. According to Hopmann, “NET RMA will start acquisition services and start to develop the project and hopefully secure construction funding so they can begin construction operations.” Residents’ property will be used for the road’s right of way. But along with landowners losing part of their land, other residents are worried and not looking forward to the construction traffic, detours and hassle. One resident comments, “It’s going to affect a lot of people, I think — the kids, the parents, the people that live here — all the residents.”