Federal Government Demands Return of Highway Funding
Highway repairs spread across the state from concrete repairs in the Dallas area to rehab projects in Midland, Kerrville and San Antonio; Texas Transportation Forum scheduled for July.
State Returns $288 Million Highway Funding to Federal Government
State transportation officials authorized funding reductions for multiple highway programs in response to a mandate from the federal government to return $288 million to Washington by April 19.
The Texas Transportation Commission selected five funding categories from which to make the required reductions: $71 million from interstate maintenance; $100 million from National Highway System (interstate, principal arterial, national defense and military base connector and intermodal roadways); $30 million from Surface Transportation Program (federal-aid highways and public road bridges); $60 million from congestion mitigation and air quality projects; and $24 million from bridge funding projects. These reductions come on top of $305 million in funds TxDOT has had to return to Washington over the last 15 months.
TxDOT officials said the reductions will not impact existing construction projects and were made to maintain flexibility so locally-determined priorities can be achieved. All 50 states have been directed to return federal transportation funds. The funds in question had been appropriated by the federal government, which is now asking states to return the money to help support national priorities.
Left Lane Restrictions for Large Trucks in Place from San Antonio to Georgetown
The Texas Transportation Commission approved a left-lane restriction for large trucks on portions of Interstate 35 in Bexar, Guadalupe, Comal and Hays Counties in March.
These restrictions will prohibit truck tractors with three or more axles from operating in the inside left lane from just south of Loop 1604 in the city of Live Oak northward to the southern city limits of San Marcos.
TxDOT worked closely with local jurisdictions along the route to develop the lane restriction and conducted a traffic study, which concluded it would be beneficial to both safety and general mobility to implement such a restriction.
TxDOT officials stated that the agency’s experience with similar restrictions has shown they result in a decrease in traffic crashes and also provide for a smoother and more consistent flow of traffic. This action now implements truck lane restrictions on Interstate 35 from north of San Antonio to north of Georgetown.
Large trucks are still allowed to travel in the left lane for passing another vehicle or when entering or exiting the highway. The restriction will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Texas Transportation Forum Set for July 18 to 20
Exploring the solutions to “Keep Texas Moving” is the focus of the second-annual Texas Transportation Forum on July 18 to 20 in Austin. Local, regional and state leaders join national experts in a conversation about the steps needed to ensure that the transportation system encourages economic vitality and a high quality of life throughout the state and nation. Topics address financing, economic development, contracting, regional issues and multimodal efforts. Co-hosts of the forum are the Texas Department of Transportation, the Associated General Contractors of Texas, the Texas Good Roads Transportation Association and the Texas Transportation Institute. Discounted registration is available until June 13. For more information, visit www.texastransportationforum.com.
HOV Lanes Add to Interstate 30 Between Arlington and Southwest Dallas
TxDOT began new construction on I-30 in southwest Dallas in March on a $6.2 million 16.6-mile project, which includes adding High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the center of I-30 from Ball Park Way in Arlington to east of Sylvan Avenue.
The project will be built in two phases. Crews will begin the first phase of construction by building two reversible HOV lanes from east of Sylvan Avenue to the Tarrant County line. The first section of the project will open to traffic in July while the second section will open by the end of the year. The second phase of the project will include construction of two concurrent HOV lanes from Ball Park Way to the Dallas County line. W.W. Webber, L.L.C., of Houston, is the contractor of this job. The project is scheduled to finish in January 2008.
Accelerated Schedule Sought for Loop 20-US 59 Interchange
Laredo’s Loop 20-US 59 Diamond Interchange Project began in February with a projected construction time set for 27 months; however, an accelerated schedule is being pursued by TxDOT, and Kiewit Construction, the contractor for the $19 million project.
The project calls for the construction of a bridge on Loop 20 over US 59 with entrance and exit ramps. Traffic signal lights will be placed on US 59 under Loop 20 to allow local traffic access to Loop 20 and US 59.
TxDOT Rebuilding Six-Mile Section of Midland Road to Add to FM 1379
TxDOT is rebuilding nearly six miles of the Midland County road that connects Farm to Market Highway 1379 in southeast Midland County to State Highway 349. The road will be added to the state highway system.
The transfer of ownership and responsibility for highway maintenance from Midland County to the state has been approved by the Midland County Commissioners’ Court and the Texas Transportation Commission.
Drivers will encounter flaggers at each end of the construction area and a pilot car will guide traffic through the work zone during the day. The roadway will be open to two-way traffic from dusk to dawn.
The work to bring the roadway to state highway standards is being performed this spring and summer by Jones Bros. Dirt & Paving Contractors, Inc. of Odessa for $2.8 million. Work began in April and is scheduled for completion by September.
This is the fifth major road project on FM 1379 since 1997. When the current job is complete, nearly all of FM 1379 – from FM 307 at Greenwood to State Highway 349 south of Midland – will have been reconstructed.
I-35 Rehab Project in San Antonio Closes Traffic Lane
TxDOT and its contractor, Texas Sterling Construction, have eliminated one of the two exit lanes from southbound Interstate 35 to Interstate 410 in northeast San Antonio. Motorists traveling southbound on I-35 to Loop 410 will be down to one lane until they cross the bridge over I-35. Then the travel lanes return to the normal two lanes.
This closure was necessary to allow crews to work on the south side of the bridge where they would be out of sight of oncoming motorists. The length of the bridge itself is insufficient to allow high speed motorists to safely merge before the work area. TxDOT anticipates the lane to be opened by late summer.
The work is part of the $12.3 million project that will rehabilitate the main lanes and reconstruct the shoulders on IH 410 from Houston Street (FM 1346) to I-35 North.
Halfway Point Reached in $17.9 Million Kerrville Road Construction Project
Kerrville’s $17.9 million Sidney Baker Street construction project reached its halfway point on the project, which began in late 2005. When completed in spring 2008, there will be a new roadway from Interstate 10 to State Highway 27.
Among improvements to the road include bicycle lanes, sidewalks, driveways and curbs. Residents and business owners will have improved drainage, upgraded utilities, and updated traffic signals as well as a new traffic signal at the intersection of IH 10 and Sidney Baker Street.
Cherokee Road and Bridge is the contractor for the project. Traffic has been moved to one half of the new roadway between I-10 and Yorktown. The work and progress is most noticeable near I-10 on the northern section of the project.
Safety Features Added to State Highway 123 in Guadalupe County
With a goal of improved safety, construction began in January on State Highway 123 in northern Guadalupe with additional safety treatments to the fixed objects and guardrail installed in multiple. The cost of these safety features and guardrail is $1.62 million.
In addition, crews will be re-paving State Highway 123 from the Hays County line to I-10. This road work entails milling the roadway, pavement repair, seal coat and pavement overlay with permeable friction course. Permeable friction course improves drainage of water from the roadway and reduces traffic noise. The overlay work is began in late spring. The cost of this part of the project is $3.36 million.
The project is scheduled for completion late this year. Hunter Industries, Inc. is the contractor for the project.
$10 Million Concrete Repair Job Underway in Dallas
A $10 million repair and overlay project on Interstate 20 from Willoughby Avenue to the Trinity River bridge in Dallas began in March. TxDOT began the concrete repair job on an 8.4-mile section of the highway. Work on the project includes full-depth repair and overlay work on the main lanes. Shoulder repairs also will be done for this project. Throughout the project, various lanes will be closed for construction work.
APAC-TEXAS, Inc., serves as the contractor of this project. The project is scheduled for completion in January 2008. |
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