Keep Texas Moving Transportation Forum Set for Mid-Month
Construction on a new $24.6 million interstate entrance for Odessa closes Business I-20 for two years.
Transportation Forum Slated for July 18-20
Exploring the solutions to “Keep Texas Moving” is the focus of the second-annual Texas Transportation Forum on July 18 to 20 in Austin. Local, regional and state leaders join national experts in a conversation about the steps needed to ensure that our transportation system encourages economic vitality and a high quality of life throughout our state and nation. Topics address financing, economic development, contracting, regional issues and multimodal efforts. Co-hosts of the forum are the Texas Department of Transportation, the Associated General Contractors of Texas, the Texas Good Roads Transportation Association and the Texas Transportation Institute. For more information, visit www.texastransportationforum.com.
Odessa Road Construction Shuts Down Business I-20 for Two Years
A joint $24.6-million Texas Department of Transportation and city of Odessa project to build a new interchange spanning Business Interstate 20. Construction on the route and the Union Pacific railroad and connecting north and south segments of JBS Parkway began in the spring. The project will take two years to complete. Reece Albert Inc, Midland is the contractor
Construction on Business Interstate 20 - also known as Second Street in southeast Odessa – includes work on a large drainage structure just west of JBS Parkway. The speed limit was reduced to 45 through the work zone.
Later, when the bridge construction gets underway in earnest, the main lanes of BI-20 will be closed at night between East Loop 338 and the intersection of Second and Eighth streets, and all eastbound and westbound traffic will be detoured to the north frontage road through the work zone.
The new interchange will be part of a pair of interchanges that will create a new interstate entrance for Odessa. It will connect two existing segments of JBS Parkway and ultimately connect to Interstate 20 near the Family Dollar distribution facility where TxDOT is about half-finished with another new interchange, which started in January 2006 and is scheduled to finish in early 2008. The BI-20 interchange should be finished in early 2009.
Funding Gap Between State’s Needs and Available Funding Identified
For the first time in its history, TxDOT identified the funding gap between the state’s transportation needs and available funding in a report from the State Auditor’s Office titled “The Department of Transportation’s Reported Funding Gap and Tax Gap Information.”
The purpose of the report is to provide a general assessment of the statewide needs for additional mobility funding. The numbers do not include maintenance costs, which if included would more than double the amount.
The effort to identify the funding gap began in 2004 and was a coordinated effort with transportation planners from around the state.
The state’s eight metropolitan planning organizations identified nearly $68 billion in unfunded needs in their rapidly growing areas. Urban and rural needs were identified by TxDOT at $18 billion, for a total statewide funding gap of $86 billion, which was reported in TxDOT’s 2006 strategic plan.
There are many variables involved in projecting 25 years in the future. Looking at past efforts by other organizations, national groups, and assessments made by other states, the Texas estimate compares appropriately to other studies.
TxDOT is working with transportation planners from across Texas on a reassessment that will show the latest funding needs for metropolitan, urban and rural areas and will soon release new figures.
“This report is further documentation of a multi-billion dollar funding gap between the transportation system our state deserves and the one we can afford with current resources. No matter what number you choose, Texas has a big problem: more people, in more cars, driving more miles on an already congested highway system,” says Michael Behrens, executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, in a prepared statement.
Behrens says the funding gap is growing, but state officials are using all the financial options available working with local partners around the state to tackle the congestion problem that threatens traffic safety and air quality.
TxDOT to Rehab US 67 Frontage Roads in Duncanville and Cedar Hill
Repaving work on 5.7 miles of US 67 frontage roads, from south of Cooper Street to north of Cockrell Hill, began in the spring in Duncanville and Cedar Hill at a cost of more than $4.9 million.
Throughout the project, crews will do overlay work, base repairs and add pavement markings to the frontage roads. Approximately 242 working days will be committed to this construction job.
Work will be done on weekdays only with daytime work taking place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and nighttime work occurring between 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Various lane closures will take place during work hours.
Austin Bridge and Road, LP, of Dallas, is the contractor of this project. The US 67 frontage road job is scheduled to wrap up in January.
TxDOT Resumes Work on $9.9 Million US 80 Project in Mesquite
The Texas Department of Transportation resumed work on a flood relief project on the US 80 frontage roads, located between Town East Boulevard and Gross Road, in Mesquite. The cost of the 1.3-mile project is an estimated $9.9 million.
In October, time was suspended to redesign the project to accommodate the truck traffic that utilizes the frontage roads. The project includes replacing culverts with bridges while raising the profile of the roadway to stop flooding.
In order to build the bridges, the eastbound frontage road will be converted into a temporary two-way road for the general public and delivery trucks accessing a local business adjacent to US 80.
Motorists traveling westbound on the frontage road will be required to use a temporary on-ramp east of Bamboo Street since the frontage road is closed to Forney Road. Tiseo Paving Company, of Mesquite, is the contractor of this job. Work on the US 80 frontage roads is scheduled to finish in August 2009.
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