TxDOT begins overpass construction
By Lori Mellinger editor@bullardnews.com

Construction work to build an overpass for US 69 over FM 344 in Bullard officially kicked off this week.

"The first phase of the project calls for upgrading drainage structures under existing US 69 and FM 344, which should have a minimal impact on traffic, though some lane closures are possible during this phase," said TxDOT spokesperson Larry Krantz.

The construction area will be about ‰ mile on either side of FM 344 where the ramps and overpass will be built.

FM 344 will be expanded as well approximately 1,000 feet on either side of US 69 to accommodate additional turn lanes.

The project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2010.

But Bullard residents and taxpayers won't be forced to share the burden of paying for the new FM 344 overpass planned by TxDOT.

While council members were trying to decide how to get the money the state agency wanted - a total of $36,000 for right of way acquisition - a TxDOT representative was doing some research of his own.

Randy Redmond, director of transportation, planning and development for TxDOT's Tyler district, told city leaders the news last week.

Redmond said he was able to eradicate any financial responsibility through classification of the project.

"Because this is one of TxDOT's safety projects, the overpass should be funded through safety bond issue money," Redmond said.

The bond issue is one passed by voters in 2003.

The Tyler district received $116 million of the $650 doled out statewide, and area engineer Vernon Webb said he expects the project to total about $9 million.

"I've worked around and with TxDOT many years," said Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan. "And I've seen them respond to cities and communities when they are asked.

"They are always open and cooperative."

Redmond had yet to announce his findings, but Morgan, along with Bullard Police Chief Gary Lewis and then-Mayor Pro Tem A.W. Hines were told when the group went two weeks ago to visit with the agency and District Engineer Mary Owen.

"It was an informational meeting, actually," Morgan said. "We were asking about how the agency determines speed limits, wondering if lowering the speed along Highway 69 would increase driver safety. "

Owen told the group that TxDOT's biggest mission and concern is safety. She said that it's more practical and safer to keep traffic moving - rather than a gradual slowdown and then increase.

"In that situation, traffic tends to bottleneck, people brake quicker and that's when we've found more wrecks occur," Owen said. "We have a detailed formula that we use for traffic studies."

Webb said the agency is building the overpass to make traffic run smoother through the city limits, and reduced speed limits won't be necessary.

Redmond said the FM 344 project, as well as the similar one at FM 346, is paid with through bond money.

"It doesn't pay for everything, but it does fund the majority of the project," he said. "The rest comes from our district 's general fund."

Rising construction costs have forced other East Texas TxDOT projects to wait.

TxDOT has either canceled or delayed other related projects; plans for an overpass over FM 344 are on schedule.

Owen, not realizing the safety money could be used, wrote the city a letter, stating, in part, "In order to acquire the additional right of way, we need the City of Bullard's local participation. The local participation amount for this project is $36,000, which represents 10 percent of the estimated cost to acquire right of way and adjust utilities."

Morgan said Flint and Gresham were not asked to participate in funding because the FM 346 project isn't in their city limits.

"The (FM) 346 project was initially supposed to be done first, but TxDOT moved it back," Morgan said.

City leaders worried about the financial impact this could have on the budget, but they are now relieved.

"It's not out of the question that TxDOT will ask for a city's participation," Morgan said. "Whitehouse had to pay a share of the Loop 49 project."

TxDOT announced in August 2006 that the agency is scrapping or delaying plans on projects in the eight-county Tyler district due to rising construction costs and lack of funds.

"With the astronomical rise in pricing for materials, and being able to find a contractor that's willing to fit in our price range, we're having to rethink how we do that and break projects up a little," Redmond said.

TxDOT hasn't determined whether any other projects will be affected by funding problems.

In July of 2006, Webb spoke to the Bullard council about the FM 344 project.

Webb said the agency was moving quicker than anticipated on this project.

The overpass will be what Webb called a typical interchange, built by the agency, complete with Texas turnarounds - where drivers are able to make a u-turn before the light.

TxDOT held a series of both public hearings and meetings on the project, and talks and plans have been in the works for a few years.

The 344 project will run about a mile in length.

"There has been a great deal of concern in crossing both 344 and 346," Morgan said. "The concern centers on the safety of the driving public. TxDOT has elected to create an overpass over both intersections. "

According to Morgan, the agency had a timeline of seven to eight years, but has since moved it up.

Preparatory work began last week on the project.

The FM 346 project is still in the design phase, according to Krantz, but could be let to construction as early as January 2009.