Two Major Projects Scheduled for Tyler Loop 323 in 2013

SMITH COUNTY – The Texas Department has big plans for Smith County in 2013, including letting to contract a pair of projects affecting Tyler’s Loop 323, and another on Spur 364. The plans for Loop 323 include a complete resurfacing project on the northeast quadrant of the loop, which runs from US 69 north to Commerce Street on the east side. The estimated $4.6 million project is scheduled to let to contract in March with work to begin in the late spring or early summer. Once the project is complete, TxDOT will have resurfaced the entire loop in the past five years.

Thays a big accomplishment,” said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. “Tyler is growing right along with East Texas, and it’s important for a number of reasons that Tyler’s loop stays in good condition.”

The other project relating to Loop 323 is the project to eliminate the bottleneck caused by the railroad overpass between Bellwood Drive and State Highway 31 (West Front Street). The estimated $6.5 million project is scheduled to let in August, with construction to begin as early as the fall. “That’s going to be an interesting project to watch,” Krantz said. “That rail line is vital to commerce in East Texas and we can’t shut it down for long. That means, among other things, we have to build a temporary bridge for the railroad to use while we build the new one.”

On Spur 364, which runs between southwest Loop 323 and SH 31 west of Tyler, construction crews will be adding shoulders and turn lanes on most of the roadway. The estimated $2.7 million project, which includes similar work on FM 2908 west of Tyler, is scheduled to let in May and begin work in the summer.

The projects are also scheduled to conclude in 2013, including the $4 million project to repair, widen and resurface FM 2767 between FM 850 east of Tyler and the Gregg County Line; a $7 million project to repair and resurface Farm Road 16 between Farm Road 1253 near Van and Farm Road 757 near Winona; and a $2.2 million project to widen and resurface Farm Road 14 in the Tyler State Park area between Interstate Highway 20 and Farm Road 16 in Red Springs.

TxDOT is also scheduled to replace bridges on three Smith County roads, including County Road 1141 at Indian Creek, County Road 132 at Henshaw Creek, and County Road 2115 at Bowles Creek. The projects are all scheduled to let to contract in March through the Federal Bridge Replacement Program for an combined estimate of $1.7 million.

Finally, TxDOT’s annual preventative maintenance program, known as “District Wide Seal Coat” is scheduled to seal six roads in Smith County this summer, including:
*State Highway 110 between Hagan Road in Whitehouse and Farm Road 1089 in Troup;
*Farm Road between Farm Road 2015 and Farm Road\M 16 at Red Springs;
*Farm Road 346 between Farm Road 2868 near Flint and Farm Road 2964 (Rhones Quarter Road) near in Whitehouse;
*Farm Road 848 between State Highway 64 at Bascom Road and Farm Road 346 in Whitehouse
*Farm Road 1804 between Wood County Line and U.S. Highway 69 near Lindale;
*Farm Road 2661 between State Highway 64 and Big Eddy Road in Noonday.