TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — Here’s a look at work planned in the Tyler District during the next two weeks: December 22, 2014 and December 29, 2014.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler will be patching on mostly low volume roadways throughout the county during the next two weeks. On Monday, December 22, weather permitting; crews will have a moving operation while patching potholes on Interstate Highway 20. Motorists should watch for safety equipment and personnel in this traveling work zone.

Crews will start patching low volume roads on Tuesday with little impact on traffic. Pavement repair work on Loop 323 between the loop extension and Commerce Street will resume on January 5th.

Caution advised when traveling through the following construction projects in Smith County:
SH 31E Widening Project
*Limits: From FM 757 to FM 1639
*Contractor: Reynolds & Kay, LTD
*Cost: $7.8 million
Approved by the Texas Transportation Commission in August, this project consists of widening State Highway 31 to add passing lanes for multiple sections of roadway in both the eastbound and westbound directions. Once the widening is complete, a seal coat and final surface will be applied. Motorists should expect delays as wells as a daily construction speed limit of 60 mph when work is being performed on this job which is expected to about 18 months to complete.

State Highway 31East Widening Project
*Limits: From FM 850 to FM 757
*Contractor: East Texas Bridge, Inc.
*Cost: $3.4 million
This widening project runs from FM 850, east of Tyler, to FM 757. It is scheduled for completion next spring. Off-System Bridge Replacement Projects
*Locations:
*County Road (CR) 448
*County Road (CR) 46
*Contractor: $490,000
Barricades are set for the County Road 448 project which carries traffic to the popular Sky Ranch. Motorists should look for message boards put in place with closure and detour information. The work is expected to take a couple of months to complete. County Road 46 will then be shut down for its bridge replacement, which is also expected to take about two months to complete.

Loop 323
*Limits: Tyler’s West Loop and SH 31
*Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd.
This widening and railroad bridge replacement project continues with the contractor constructing the shoofly bridge. Motorists should expect intermittent delays during this work. Look for new speed limit signs in this area as it has been reduced to 45 mph from State Highway 64 to Shaw Street on Loop 323.

SH 64
*Limits: from Chapel Hill to Arp
*Contractor: Drewery Construction
*Cost: $3.9 million
TxDOT is asking motorists to use extra caution and watch for flaggers providing traffic control when traveling through this work zone. This Super 2 widening project continues and consists of clearing and grading. The dirt work is currently being performed from CR 299 to just west of Arp where the work zone speed limit is set at 60 mph. This is a daily speed zone reduction and will only be posted when workers are present. Expect lane closures.

GREGG COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Longview are scheduled to conduct edge repairs on Interstate Highway 20 service roads and on Farm Road 2207 from Farm Road 1252 to State Highway 135. The roadway will be reduced to one lane with flaggers providing traffic control. Crews will also be patching various roads throughout the county. This will be a moving operation using special truck mounted safety equipment for traffic control.

Work continues on the following construction projects in Gregg County:
FM 2275 George Richey Extension (Segments II & III)
*Limits: McCann Road to U.S. 259
*Contractor: East Texas Bridge, Inc.
The clearing between Judson Road and Airline Road continues. Excavation, embankment, bridge construction, storm drain and other work are ongoing between McCann Road and Judson Road. This is new location construction work and is not expected to impact traffic.

Farm Road 2208 (Alpine Road) at Smelley Road
*Limits: From North Loop 281 to FM 2879
*Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd.
Intersection improvements that started in September are nearing completion with new striping being applied on the turn lanes this week. This will impact traffic so expect delays and when possible use alternate routes.

Loop 281 at Farm Road 2087 Overpass
*Limits: SH 31 to approximately one mile south of SH 31
*Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd.
This project is in Phase III of construction with traffic moved off the existing Loop onto the detours. The contractor is placing drill shafts for the bridge, constructing a temporary retaining wall, the bridge headers and storm drain. Traffic can expect some delays during the peak evening hours. Caution advised during travel through this work zone.

State Highway 42
*Limits: From SH 31 north to I-20
*Contractor: Reynolds & Kay, Ltd.
Construction has been postponed as the contractor works on plans to build a turn lane at Hillcrest Road. The contractor will be conducting curb and gutter and guardrail work but construction is expected to slow down during the winter months. Drivers can expect minimal impacts at this time. Motorists can expect to see nighttime operations being implemented at some point after work resumes.

Spinks-Chapman County Road
*Limits: At the Rabbit Creek Bridge just east of Meadows Lane
*Contractor: Massana Construction, Inc.
Construction of the bridge continues on Spinks Chapman Road southwest of the I-20 and SH 31 interchange near Kilgore. Spinks-Chapman Road is closed to through traffic between Meadows Lane and Norris Road during construction. This project is in the final stage with completion expected soon. Motorists must use alternative routes to reach their destinations.

Interstate Highway 20 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)
*Location
*East of FM 1255 westbound – Van Zandt County
*West of FM 849 eastbound – Smith County
*Derrick Park westbound – Smith County
*Contractor: Highway Intelligent Traffic Solutions Corp.
The contractor is installing these DMS’s at the aforementioned locations. This work will have minimal impact on the traveling public.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Palestine will be working to patch potholes and address encroachments on the right of way during the next couple of weeks. This work will have little impact on holiday traffic.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Jacksonville and Rusk are doing edge repairs on various roadways throughout Cherokee County during the next two weeks. Be careful when traveling through the work areas.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews in Athens are planning to patch potholes and conduct edge repairs during the next two weeks at various locations throughout the county. Motorists are advised to remain alert as these will be moving operations.

Elsewhere, the Farm Road 317 widening project continues from Farm Road 314 to Farm Road 607 with the contractor placing hot mix as weather permits. Expect lane closures.

RUSK COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews in Henderson plan to dispatch a pothole patch crew out daily during the next couple of weeks to make repairs throughout the county. A second crew will be cleaning up debris from various roadways. No lane closures or major project work being performed during the holiday weeks.

Work on the State Highway 64 construction project continues in Rusk County:
*Limits: 0.173 miles west of BU 64E (N. Marshall St.) east to 0.2 miles west of U.S. 79 (The Traffic Star)
*Contractor: Lonestar Equipment Company, Inc.
The $2.1 million construction project on SH 64 in Henderson got under way in August and continues to experience some delays due to utility adjustments and other unforeseen issues, but is expected to be completed in summer 2015. The project consists of widening the existing two-lane roadway and constructing a four-lane facility along with a continuous Left Turn Lane. The contractor, L.S. Equipment Co., of Henderson, will perform the majority of the work outside the existing travel lanes, thereby lessening the impact on traffic.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews in Canton will be patching potholes at various locations around the county Monday and Tuesday before shutting down operations for Christmas. The week of December 29th crews will be conducting routine maintenance throughout the county. All work is weather permitting. Motorists are reminded to use caution in work zones during the holidays.

Here are updates for construction projects in Van Zandt County:
*The contractor is applying hot mix and installing guardrail on the County Road 2702 Bridge Replacement Project at Lacy Fork Tributary next week. The roadway is closed to traffic.
*More culvert work continues on the State Highway 198 project from State Highway 243 southwest to 0.4 miles northeast of FM 316 near Phalba.
*On Farm Road 314 from Interstate Highway20 to the Van Zandt/Henderson County Line, the contractor is conducting culvert work from Edom to the Henderson County Line. Use caution and expect lane closures.

WOOD COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation crews in Mineola will spend the next couple of weeks on Farm Road 2869 doing edge repairs from State Highway 154 north to Farm Road 2088 as well as base repairs on Farm Road 14 north to Farm Road 2088. Expect lane closures at both locations.

Meanwhile, final cleanup continues on the U.S. Highway 69 widening project in Mineola. The roadway is being widened from Loop 564 in Mineola to Farm Road 779 in Golden. Expect lane closures.