Lane closures to start today on US Hwy 69
By Lori Mellinger editor@bullardnews.com

Crews are scheduled to reduce US 69 to one lane in each direction around the FM 344 intersection in Bullard beginning today, so crews can begin construction on temporary lanes for traffic during the construction of the overpass at that intersection.

Construction of the temporary lanes will take about two weeks, weather permitting, at which time traffic from FM 344 will not be allowed to cross US 69, or turn left onto US 69 until the project is complete next summer.

One-lane traffic on US 69 in this area will also be in effect until the overpass is complete.

The northbound left-turn lane and crossover at Main Street from US 69 will also be permanently closed beginning today.

To enter downtown Bullard from north- bound US 69, motorists should take FM 2493. To access FM 344 east of US 69, southbound motorists are encouraged to take FM 2493 south of Bullard, and turn back north on US 69, or take FM 756 (Paluxy Drive) south of Tyler.

The work zone speed limit of 45 mph on US 69 will be established through the work area at that time.

The construction area is approximately ½ 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 part of a $116 million safety bond allocation awarded to the Tyler District in 2004 for construction of safety-related projects such as medians and adding shoulders and leftturn lanes to two-lane roads.

A similar project for FM 346 to cross over US 69 in Flint is still in the design phase.

"Because this is one of TxDOT's safety projects, the overpass will be funded through safety bond issue money," said Randy Redmond, director of transportation, planning and development for TxDOT's Tyler district.

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."

Back in 2006, 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 and delayed other related projects, plans for an overpass over FM 344 are on schedule.

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 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.