Released by TxDOT
TYLER (KYTX) - The Texas Department of Transportation's Tyler District announced today it had let three projects totaling $16 million in August and has plans to let an additional $43 project in September.
The project scheduled to let in September calls for expanding US 79 in Anderson County to four lanes between Palestine and the Trinity River. Crews will be building the new lanes adjacent to the existing lanes, then swapping traffic to rebuild the existing lanes.
"Most of this project should be pretty pain-free," said TxDOT spokesman Larry Krantz. "But it will have its moments, particularly as we make room for and build the new lanes closer to Palestine's Westwood High School and the industrial district on the south end of town. In the end, though, this project is sorely needed and we're excited about being able to finally get off the starting line."
The project is scheduled to take approximately four years to complete.
In Wood County, construction contractor Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview, was awarded a $2.8 million contract to replace the SH 154 bridge just west of Quitman with a larger structure. This project is in conjunction with a second project which calls for adding 10-foot shoulders to SH 154 between SH 37 in Quitman and the Lake Fork Reservoir Bridge just north of FM 288. The second project, which has an estimated cost of $6.5 million, is scheduled to let in October, with work beginning during the winter.
The work on bridge portion of the project is scheduled to last approximately nine months.
"Planning for the bridge replacement was tricky since we had to keep one lane open in each direction," Krantz said. "The lanes will be pretty narrow, and it may cause some traffic backups, but it will be open with the exception of some daytime lane closures. Once it's all finished, the bridge will have shoulders that match the width of the shoulders being added in the second project."
In Van Zandt County, contractor A.L. Helmcamp was awarded a $6.7 million contract to begin the second project to add passing lanes on SH 64 between Tyler and Canton, this one running from FM 314 at the west end of the current project, and ending at FM 858 in Ben Wheeler. Preliminary work on this project is scheduled to begin over the winter.
In Henderson County, contractor APAC-Texas, Inc., was awarded a $6.3 million contract to add passing lanes on Texas 19 between Athens and the Anderson County Line. Preliminary work will begin over the winter.
