TxDOT Project Updates

TYLER — The Texas Department of Transportation has announced that it plans to break ground on two Tyler District construction projects during the month of August, and that it completed two projects in the district during July. That keeps the number of total projects under construction at 28 across the eight-county district. “We’re seeing a lot of construction activity right now,” said TxDOT public information officer Larry Krantz. “And if the weather keeps cooperating with us throughout the next month to six weeks, we should be able to close the books on several projects during that time.”

In the meantime, TxDOT has plans to begin two projects in the coming week. In Kilgore, TxDOT contractor Knife River Corp., South, is scheduled to begin approximately two months of pavement repairs and resurfacing on SH 31 between SH 42 and Business US 259. The $981,000 project let to contract in May. In Cherokee County, TxDOT contractor Reynolds & Kay is scheduled to begin adding shoulders to FM 855 between US 175 and CCR 3415, and to FM 747 approximately 5 miles south of US 79, west of Jacksonville. The $540,000 project let to contract in June. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress, and motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes if possible to avoid delays.

The list of projects completed in July included a $2.3 million repair-and-resurface project on Interstate 20 in western Van Zandt County by Austin Bridge & Road, and a $240,000 project by Simon Traylor and Sons on SH 149 in Gregg County to add a left-turn lane at FM 349. “We’ve done a lot of work on Interstate 20 in the past few years,” Krantz said. “And we’re going to continue to work on it.” In fact, Krantz said TxDOT plans to let four projects to contract worth an estimated $4.3 combined during the second week of August, including a estimated $946,000 project to repair and resurface the westbound lanes of Interstate 20 between SH 110 and the Van Zandt County Line.

The other three projects include an estimated $2.5 million project to add shoulders to and resurface FM 344 in Smith County between US 69 in Bullard and FM 346 in Teaselville; an estimated $800,000 project to add turn lanes on SH 110 on either side of FM 1805 in Van to allow safer access to the Van Sports Complex; and an estimated $75,000 project in to beautify and landscape the traffic islands in the Henderson Star intersection.