TxDOT Completes Some Roadwork while Other Projects Continue

TYLER – TxDOT crews in Henderson and Gregg counties worked on roadways Tuesday night, one making emergency repairs to a roadway compromised by rain, the other to clear an overturned truck. Crews also made emergency repairs to an area of State Highway 19 North, identified late Tuesday afternoon in Athens. The roadway had been compromised by the rain that has over-saturated the area during the last few months. The location was about a mile and a half north of Loop 7 at the bridge. Traffic was reduced to one lane for the repairs, which were completed at about 8:30 Tuesday night, allowing the roadway to return to normal traffic flow.

Meanwhile, Interstate Highway 20 eastbound at the 595A Exit Ramp was closed for a lengthy period beginning just before noon Tuesday after an 18-wheeler carrying a hazardous chemical overturned on the ramp. A hazardous material team headed to the scene to remove the cargo from the truck. The location was cleared of the 18-wheeler and its cargo around midnight Tuesday night and also returned to normal traffic flow.

Elsewhere, TxDOT has closed several other roadways that have been washed out by rain:
*Farm Road 317 in Henderson County is closed as emergency repair plans are devised. The roadway washed out approximately three miles east of State Highway 31 and will remain closed indefinitely. Temporary water barriers are in place at this location. Traffic is detoured to Farm Road 2495 and back to Loop 7.

*Farm Road 1616 from Loop 7 to Farm Road 773 near Murchison in Henderson County is closed after also being compromised by rain. Work to repair it is expected to start Monday, May 25, and will take a few weeks to complete. Temporary safety barriers are in place at this location. Traffic is being redirected.

*Farm Road 3204 east of State Highway 31 in Brownsboro in Henderson County was closed on May 15 for emergency repairs after a washout. The repairs are expected to take about three months to complete.

*Farm Road 768 north of Rusk in Cherokee County has been closed at the bridge for emergency repairs. The closure was necessitated by recent rains that caused damage to pipes and slopes. Plans are being developed for repairs and are anticipated to take about two weeks to complete.