Three-Level, $54.5 Million Interchange For Houston

A contract was recently awarded to W.W. Webber Inc. for construction of a three-level interchange connecting the new NASA Road 1 Bypass and IH-45-Gulf Freeway.

January TxDOT Letting Dates

The Texas Department of Transportation has scheduled its next highway letting for January 10 and 11. Eighty-two projects are approved to be let with an estimated total of $356,510,639.

A TxDOT report said projects may be added, advanced or delayed as deemed necessary

W.W. Webber to Construct New IH-45 Overpass, Connector Ramps

The Texas Transportation Commission has awarded a contract for the construction of a three-level interchange connecting the new NASA Road 1 Bypass and IH-45-Gulf Freeway. The project will construct a new overpass on IH-45-Gulf Freeway where the bypass currently under construction will intersect the freeway. In addition, two new direct connector ramps at the interchange, providing motorists traveling to and from Houston with direct access between the new NASA Road 1 and IH 45-Gulf Freeway mainlanes will be constructed. The southbound direct connector to NASA Road 1 eastbound will soar more than 70 ft. over the at-grade frontage roads.

The $54,479,255 contract was awarded to W.W. Webber Inc. of Houston. The 1-mi. section of the Gulf Freeway will be completely rebuilt south of the present NASA Road 1 to the proposed interchange. This project will build the north- and southbound three-lane frontage roads of IH-45 as an at-grade intersection with the new NASA Road 1 Bypass.

All work on the project will be completed by the end of March 2009.

Perry Announces Appointees to Evacuation Task Force

Gov. Rick Perry recently announced the appointment of 10 individuals to the Task Force on Evacuation Transportation and Logistics, a group established in late September after Hurricane Rita hit the Gulf Coast. The group was established by Perry, Houston Mayor Bill White and Harris County Judge Robert Eckels to improve evacuation procedures for major metropolitan areas in Texas. Jack Little, former President and CEO of Shell Oil Company, will serve as chairman.

"Hurricane Rita highlighted the tremendous challenges associated with evacuating a major American city as well as strengths and weaknesses in state, local and private evacuation plans," Perry said. "While we achieved the ultimate goal of moving millions of people to safety in a matter of hours, we can and we must do better the next time we are faced with an emergency."
Perry said the task force will seek the input of experts in fields including transportation, fuel delivery and traffic management, and will recommend improvements to state and local governments and the private sector.

Members of the task force include: Jack Little of Houston (chair), former president and CEO of Shell Oil Company; Gordon Bethune of Houston, former chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines; Theron Bowman, chief of police for City of Arlington; Bill King, former Mayor of Kemah; Bill Klesse of San Antonio, executive vice president and COO of Valero Energy; Dr. Carol Lewis of Houston, associate professor in transportation studies and director of the Center for Transportation Training and Research at Texas Southern University; Jerry Patterson of Austin; Texas Land Commissioner; David Saperstein of Houston, CEO of Five S Capital, former chairman and CEO of Metro Networks Inc. and volunteer chairman of the Office of Mobility for the City of Houston; Karen Sexton of Galveston, vice president and CEO for Hospitals and Clinics at UTMB; and Mike Trevino of Houston, general manager of public and governmental affairs for Marathon Oil. Additional Task Force members may be named at a later date.

More Than $350M Approved For Rita Victims in Texas

According to a statement released by Federal Emergency Management Agency in mid-October, total assistance approved for individuals and families in Texas affected by Hurricane Rita has reached more than $351.8 million.

FEMA said that 327,221 residents have registered for disaster assistance since President Bush declared parts of the state eligible for disaster aid on September 24.

Disaster assistance can include grants to help pay for temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster-related expenses not met by insurance or other aid programs. Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available to cover residential and business losses not fully compensated by insurance.