Safety Improvement Coming to Toll 49

EAST TEXAS — Two people were killed in a Wednesday night accident on Toll 49. This is just one of many that has happened over the last few years. According to KETK, Thursday afternoon, North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) held a news conference to talk about some safety improvements to the highway. NET RMA is now implementing safety improvements to several segments of the road, including Segment 3B, 3A, 1, 2 and 5. In Project 1, ten miles of Toll 49 from State Highway 31 north to I-20 will be widened by four feet.

“Then we’re going to be doing what we call rumble strips within a center line and the center line will be approximately four feet wide,” said NET RMA Executive Director Chris Miller. “So some of these accidents and fatalities we’ve had that have involved people crossing the roadway will hopefully be prevented.” They’re also considering lowering the speed limit.

In Project 2, 15 miles of Toll 49 from State Highway 31 south to SH 110 will have a series of safety improvements, including adding a four-foot median between travel lanes, re-paving the road with new asphalt, adding rumble strips, re-striping and additional signage.

NET RMA said drivers should expect major lane closures during the hours of 9 p.m. through 6 a.m. as construction for these improvements will take place mid-April through late 2017.

If you have any questions, contact NET RMA at 903-630-7447.