April 17, 2015 - The TxDOT Lufkin District is headed into the last part of April with several projects that are planned to prepare many roads in the nine-county district for safer travel.
Here is a look at work planned in the Lufkin District during the week of April 20 as well as recent progress of ongoing construction projects. Schedules are subject to change due to weather or equipment related issues.
Angelina County
The $52 million US 59/Loop 287 North Interchange project is advancing and workers are hoping to complete the project by early 2015. Stripers are hoping to finish, weather permitting, and a planned traffic switch is on schedule for US 59 during that time. TxDOT officials plan to close Spence Street at US 59 will be diverted to the new westbound exit ramp from US 59 toward the Ellen Trout Zoo.
Roadwork on FM 2021/US 59 near Redland has night work scheduled for Monday night, April 20, on the southbound ramp from US 59 to FM 2021. The ramp will be closed, weather permitting, and affected drivers wishing to access FM 2021 will be directed to use Old US 59. A lighted message board will be in place to warn motorists of the event and other messages will be displayed appropriately directing traffic onto Old US 59.
Motorists traveling the area of Loop 287 and North Timberland Drive have no doubt noticed more work beginning there with a new project just underway. The A&NR railroad underpass will be replaced and with work just now beginning, crews are working in the right-of-ways as construction and utility crews work to finish their jobs prior to the replacement. Motorists should expect single lane traffic through the area during work hours.
Nacogdoches County
Work to add lanes northbound on Loop 224 between Mockingbird and US 59/LP224 is continuing as weather permits. The westbound entry ramp will also be widened with contractors having already placed low profile concrete traffic barriers at the intersection of South Street and the entry ramps.
Weather conditions have kept contractors from laying the final hot mix surface at the bridge replacement project on CR 706, but plans are in place for the work to be done in the coming week.
The bridge rail on Tenaha Bayou is under construction and crews will also be working on driveway entrances throughout the safety improvement project on Loop 224.
Barricades have been set for work that will also begin this week on FM 3314 that will have crews working on widening the existing paved surface width.
Polk County
TxDOT crews in Polk County will be rehabilitating the roadway on PR56A in the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation and will continue overlay work on FM 942 from US 59 for a distance of 5 miles. Motorists should expect delays and intermittent lane closures within that distance.
Motorists will likely see TxDOT crews also working on US 59 patching potholes caused by heavy rainfall.
Houston County
The construction project on SH 7 is ongoing between FM 232 and Kennard with crews extending box culverts for the roadway widening. Workers will also be trimming trees along easements to widen the roadway and stockpiling gravel and dirt for future use.
Drivers should expect intermittent lane closures in both directions with a pilot car guiding them in a single lane of traffic through the work area.
On US 287 from Crockett to the Trinity County line, crews are adding safety treatments at driveways and the connecting streets. This work is being done in the right-of-way and not in lanes of travel, although drivers should expect some delays and closures from time to time during the construction time.
Trinity County
On SH 94 from Groveton to the Angelina County line, crews continue to add safety treatments to connecting streets and driveways and motorists should expect delays while traveling through the work zone.
San Jacinto County
TxDOT crews will be doing spot rehabilitation and pavement leveling as weather permits in the areas of FM 980 near the Norman Road Outlaw Ridge subdivision. Motorists should expect to be guided by a pilot car in a single lane of traffic through the work area.
On US 59 at the overpass of FM 2914, crews will be moving concrete barriers and striping for a northbound detour in preparation for moving the traffic from the mainlanes to the detour at a later date. Concrete end caps will be poured and workers will be hauling embankment material. Motorists should expect alternating lane closures throughout the week.
On US287 and FM 946, concrete headwalls and wingwalls will be poured on cross structures.
Shelby County
James Construction crews plan to begin placing deck panels on the eastbound bridge and hanging the remainder of the bridge beams on US 84 at the Sabine River. Crews are also working to place storm sewer and other drainage structures in Logansport.
Loop 500 will see workers underseal the new pavement prior to the final placement of hot mix surface, weather permitting. Once the underseal is complete and the hot mix placed, crews will work to finish striping and back-filling edges.
Workers will continue construction on the bridge rail at the Tenaha Bayou on FM 139 as well as driveways through the area.
Sabine County
A flashing beacon at the railroad underpass on FM 1 will be placed this week.
Contractors plan to finish installing pipe with safety end treatments and a drainage structure on FM 1751.
San Augustine County
Construction has begun on the new SH 21/US 96 intersection after contractors recently removed the raised islands. A four-way stop intersection is temporarily in place and traffic has been repositioned in a direct path through the intersection to avoid confusion caused by the circle and the raised islands. Contractors plan on laying hot mix to level the existing pavement and will also begin installing storm sewer drains, weather permitting.
As these work zones are live and construction ongoing, TxDOT is asking motorists to use extra caution. Watch for flaggers who provide traffic control for vehicles traveling the area. Be prepared to stop and reduce speeds in anticipation of vehicles that may be stopping ahead. Speed limits are reduced through all work zones and traffic fines double when workers are present.
For more information, contact Rhonda.Oaks@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395.
