TxDOT project updates for the week of Oct. 5

(KLTV) - Here's a look at work planned in the district during the week of October 5, 2015. These schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure or other unforeseen issues.

Motorists are advised to slow down and pay attention on I-20 as pavement repairs continue in the eastbound outside lane Monday, October 5 from Mile Marker 563 to 564 in Smith County. Motorists should be prepared for closures and delays. Crews will be working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Please slow down and pay attention when driving through this and all work zones. It is important to remember that traffic could be stopped and backed up waiting to get moved through the work zone so pay attention to advance warning signs and other traffic control devices. Law enforcement is providing assistance with traffic.

The top two factors of work zone crashes are failure to control speed and driver inattention. Drivers hold the key to safe driving, especially in work zones. Remember these tips:

Slow down and follow posted speed limits. Speeding is a major cause of crashes in work zones.

Pay attention. Workers and heavy equipment may be only a few feet away from passing vehicles.

Don't text and drive. Driver distraction is also a major contributor to work zone crashes.

Be patient. As frustrating as it may be, delays in construction work zones are inevitable.

Plan ahead. If you can avoid a construction zone or find an alternate route on your trip, try to do that.

Meanwhile, a traffic switch has occurred on the US 79 Construction Project in Palestine. All traffic at the Sanderson Farms intersection has been shifted to the northbound lanes which will carry two-way traffic for the next several weeks. The Sanderson Farms entrance will remain closed during this work with traffic wanting to reach the business redirected to Florence Street. Additional information about this project is in the Anderson County section of this release.

Motorists are reminded to remain alert as Districtwide Seal Coat Operations continue with crews placing final striping on roadways in Anderson, Cherokee, Rusk, Van Zandt, and Wood counties. Expect lane closures.

ANDERSON COUNTY – Palestine crews are conducting more work on US 79S at the Trinity River. This week's work includes erosion control activities occurring on the northbound side right-of-way between the Trinity and Trinity Slough bridges. Expect the right lane to be closed and pay attention to traffic control devices in place to assist you through the work zone. Crews are also conducting routine maintenance, including patching potholes, and edge repairs, at locations around the county. Expect lane closures during these moving operations.

Anderson County construction projects updates:

US 79 New Lane Construction

• Limits: 1.6 miles southwest of Loop 256 in Palestine south to .4 mile southwest of FM 645
• Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview.
• Cost: $42,740,365.19

The contractor is preparing dirt on the south end of the project for lime treatment. Plans include laying surface hot mix and working on miscellaneous items throughout the project limits. No traffic delays are expected. Two-way traffic was moved to the northbound lanes on Friday. Sanderson Farms traffic is currently using Florence Street to reach the business.

US 79 – Night Work Repairs

• Limits: Loop 256 in Palestine southwest to 1.4 miles southwest of FM 1990 (Tile Factory Road)
• Contractor: Big Creek Construction of Hewitt, TX
• Cost: $2,374,737.51

Daytime striping work is currently being conducted on this project. Night time operations have concluded. The striping job is a moving operation. Completion expected in mid-October.

SH 19 Widening in Anderson County

• Limits: 3.6 miles north of FM 837 (Henderson Co. line) south to .4 mile north of FM 321 at Montalba
• Contractor: Big Creek Construction of Hewitt
• Cost: $12,487,715.87

The contractor is performing flex base and cement treat operations on this widening job. Expect lane closures and some delays with flaggers and a pilot car to assist traffic through the work zone.

Off-System Bridge Replacement Project

• Limits: County Road (CR) 453 at Beaver Creek
• Contractor: Highway 19 Construction of Sulphur Springs, Texas
• Cost: $256,312.87

CR 453 remains closed at Beaver Creek while the new bridge is built. Use alternate routes to reach your destinations as the contractor conducts final inspections with this job wrapping up later this month.

Off-System Bridge Replacement Project

• Limits: County Road (CR) 471 at Box Creek
• Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview
• Cost: $817,412.15

CR 471 at Box Creek is closed to through traffic as a new bridge is built. Completion set for November.

CHEROKEE COUNTY – Maintenance crews from Jacksonville and Rusk are performing shoulder work on US 79 between Jacksonville and New Summerfield. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control.

TxDOT contractor, Striping Technology, Inc., will be adding milled rumble strips to FM 347 in Cherokee County as part of a district-wide safety project. Expect lane closures.

GREGG COUNTY – Longview Maintenance remains on I-20 where an emergency crossover is being built just west of the Sabine River Bridge. Expect lane closures in the eastbound and westbound lanes. Other work includes ditch maintenance on FM 1844 from SH 300 to Spur 502. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control.

TxDOT contractor, Striping Technology, Inc., will have a crew adding striping on various roadways in Gregg County as part of the district-wide safety project to add centerline rumble strips. Expect lane closures.

Gregg County construction projects updates:

I-20 Total Maintenance Contract

• Limits: Gregg, Smith and Van Zandt counties
• Contractor: Fireman Excavating

The contractor expects to start laying hot mix asphalt on the mainlanes in both the eastbound and westbound directions. Expect lane closures and short delays.

SH 31 Landscape Project

• Limits: 0.3 miles north of FM 2205 (Grace Creek) to 0.2 miles south of U.S. 80 (Cotton) in Longview
• Contractor: South Texas Illuminations, LLC
• Cost: $281,249.70

Final work, including vegetation and irrigation systems, continues for this project which comes as a result of the city winning one of 10 Governor's Community Achievement Awards presented by Keep Texas Beautiful in partnership with TxDOT which allocates $2,000,000 a year as landscape incentives to competing communities based on population and efforts in litter prevention and cleanup, public awareness, beautification and property improvement, solid waste management, illegal dumping and enforcement, and education. No traffic impacts.

FM 2275 George Richey Extension (Segments II & III)

• Limits: McCann Road to US 259
• Contractor: East Texas Bridge, Inc.
• Cost: $12.8 million

This project is constructing a new roadway from McCann Road to US 259. Clearing between Judson and Airline roads continues with excavation, embankment, bridge construction, subgrade treatment, storm drain and other work between McCann and Judson roads. The contractor recently began paving operations. While this is a new location project that generally doesn't impact traffic motorists should plan to take other routes to get around Airline Road which is closed through March 2016.

Loop 281 at FM 2087 Overpass

• Limits: SH 31 to approximately one mile south of SH 31
• Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview.
• Cost: $13.2 million

This project to build a new overpass is in Phase III of construction with traffic moved off the existing loop onto the detours. The contractor continues forming and pouring bridge rail. Expect delays during the peak evening hours. Caution advised in detour areas.

SH 42

• Limits: From SH 31 north to I-20
• Contractor: Reynolds & Kay, Ltd.
• Cost: $3.7 million

The contractor is removing and replacing guard fence during the daylight hours as well as pouring concrete inlets. Expect lane closures. This project is constructing a left turn lane at Hillcrest Road along with storm drain and curb and gutter. It should be finished in late fall. Use caution in this and all work zones.

I-20 PFC Project

• Limits: SH 31E to the Harrison County line
• Contractor: Madden Contracting Company, LLC
• Cost: $5,584,277

No work planned this week. The project consists of applying a porous friction course (PFC) surface overlay, shoulder texturing, and pavement markings as well as work on the I-20 on ramps.

Porous friction courses (PFC) consist of placing hot mix asphalt mixtures at the surface of a pavement structure in a thin layer to produce benefits for the traveling public such as safety, economy and the environment.

Landscaping Project

• Limits: Intersection of SH 31 at SH 42
• Limits: Intersections of I-20 at Estes Parkway; and I-20 at Eastman Road
• Contractor: South Texas Illuminations, LLC
• Cost: $400,000

This is a landscaping project to enhance various intersections throughout Gregg and Rusk counties. This week crews are working at the intersection of SH 42 and SH 31 as well as I-20 and Estes Pkwy and Eastman Road. The majority of the work is outside the travel lane in the median and should have little impact on traffic. The travelling public should be cautious of construction vehicles entering and leaving the project sites.

HENDERSON COUNTY – Athens Maintenance is conducting bridge work on FM 315 south of Chandler between SH 31 and FM 3079. A second crew will be digging base failures on FM 2709 from FM 316 to SH 19. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control at both locations.

Henderson County construction projects updates:

SH 31 Repair Project

• Limits: .09 miles west of FM 317 eastward to .34 miles west of FM 773
• Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt
• Cost: $3.6 million

Work to place a new overlay on this part of SH 31 should be finished in late October. The contractor is currently milling the existing surface for replacement. Expect lane closures for the duration of the project.

Expect daytime lane closures throughout the duration of the project.

US 175 Widening Project

• Limits: 0.1 miles southeast of FM 804 near Baxter southeast to 1.1 miles east of Loop 60E at Larue
• Contractor: A.L. Helmcamp, Inc. and Big Creek Construction
• Cost: $39.2 million

The project expands US 175 from two lanes to a four-lane divided with a depressed median. Phase I construction started April 6, 2015 and has a November 2018 completion date. The new eastbound lane detour is now carrying two-way traffic. Dirt and drainage work around Loop 60E in Larue to near Baxter is ongoing. In the coming weeks, work is expected to continue in the median area on the west end of the project in preparation for a detour. This could require daytime lane closures in both directions. The speed limit in the construction zone has been set at 55 mph. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present.

US 175 Widening Project (Phase II)

• Limits: 1.1 miles east of Loop 60B to 0.85 mile east of FM 315
• Contractor: Sundt Construction, Inc., of San Antonio
• Cost: $37.8 million

Construction is set to begin soon with an expected completion in fall 2017. The limits stretch 3.4 miles ending just east of FM 315 in Poynor. A portion of this phase will be built on new location around the south side of Poynor. This like Phase I, is a mobility project to add capacity and improve safety, and includes adding one lane in each direction.

FM 316 Project

• Limits: From FM 1256 south to FM 3080
• Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt

This project is included with the SH 198 widening project in Van Zandt County. Culvert work continues. Expect lane closures.

FM 317 Widening Project

• Limits: From FM 314 to FM 607
• Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Hewitt

Clean up activities continue on this project to widen FM 317 from FM 314 to FM 607. Expect lane closures.

Off-System Bridge Replacement Project

• Limits: Cardinal Drive at Little Duncan Creek in Murchison
• Contractor: Hartbeat Construction of Tyler
• Cost: $314,919.44

Cardinal Drive is closed to through traffic as a new bridge is built. Completion set for later this year.

RUSK COUNTY – Henderson Maintenance return to FM 225 where they're applying a hot mix overlay between US 84 and the Nacogdoches County line. Expect lane closures and delays with one lane carrying two-way traffic controlled by a pilot car.

Rusk County construction projects updates:

US 79 Repair Project Night Operations

• Limits: From FM 225 going north to the Traffic Star (intersection of US 79/SH 64/SH 43/US 259)
• Contractor: Madden Contracting Company
• Cost: $5.2 million

Daytime seal coat operations continue this week along with night time work that includes laying asphalt at intersections. Work consists of grinding five inches into the existing pavement next to the curb and replacing it immediately with five inches of new hot mix asphalt and sealcoat. Most work will be conducted at night, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday for the duration of the project to minimize impacts to traffic. Crews will work in one-mile sections, beginning at FM 225 going north. They will then turn around and continue work in the southbound lanes. Two lanes in one direction will be affected at a time. The project is expected to be completed in October providing motorists a smoother, safer ride. Watch for flaggers, message signs, cones and barricades, and plan for brief delays in this work zone. Expect lane closures.

SH 64 Widening Project

• Limits: 0.173 miles west of BU 64E (N. Marshall St.) east to 0.2 miles west of U.S. 79 (Traffic Star)
• Contractor: Lonestar Equipment Company, Inc.
• Cost: $2.1 million

Motorists should expect periodic delays on this SH 64 construction project in Henderson as the contractor works to widen the roadway. Construction of the retaining wall continues with no impact to traffic at this time. The traffic signal at N. Marshall St. has been removed and Stop Signs installed. The signal at Mill St. will remain but will be upgraded. Use caution through this work zone.

The project started in August 2013 and consists of widening the existing two-lane roadway and constructing a four-lane facility along with a continuous Left Turn Lane with the majority of work being performed outside the existing travel lanes.

SMITH COUNTY – Tyler Maintenance is spending the week sealing and overlaying the intersection of FM 14 and I-20. Motorists are reminded to slow down and pay attention at this location where flaggers are providing traffic control on FM 14 and at the eastbound and westbound I-20 Exit Ramps. A second crew is performing edge repairs on FM 1253 with flaggers providing traffic control. Expect both locations to have reduced lanes and brief delays. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes if possible.

TxDOT contractor, Striping Technology, Inc., will have a crew adding striping on various roadways in Smith County as part of the district-wide safety project to add centerline rumble strips. Expect lane closures.

Smith County construction projects updates:

FM 1253 Widening Project

• Limits: From County Road 462 south, 1.3 miles north of FM 857 south to FM 1805
• Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview
• Cost: $7.5 million

Drainage work continues. This project includes widening, sealing and surfacing  FM 1253.

Loop 323 West Widening

• Limits: Tyler’s West Loop and SH 31
• Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview
• Cost: $12 million

Work on the retaining walls and the new bridge continues with temporary detours in place. Motorists should use caution when traveling through this work zone as crews and heavy equipment are working close to the travel lanes. Remember, NO LEFT TURNS are allowed onto East Bellwood from the loop. Expect lane closures. Motorists are encouraged to take alternate routes to avoid delays. Construction is in full swing with an expected completion date in early 2016.

The project includes widening Loop 323 from SH 31 to Shaw Street. The speed limit on Loop 323 in the work zone has been reduced to 45 mph from SH 64 to Shaw Street.

Loop 323 Northeast Project

• Limits: From American Legion Road (@ the Loop 323 Extension to US 271) south to Commerce St.
• Contractor:  Reynolds and Kay, LTD.
• Cost: $3.4 million

This project includes culvert extensions, base repair, level-up and placing an overlay. Work now focuses on applying the final surface. Expect lane closures. Completion expected in November.

SH 31E Widening Project

• Limits: From FM 757 to FM 2012
• Contractor: Reynolds & Kay, LTD
• Cost: $7.8 million

Crews are working on the embankment and other structures on the north side of this project to add passing lanes for multiple sections of roadway in both the eastbound and westbound directions. Once the widening is complete, a seal coat and final surface will be applied. A daily construction speed limit of 60 mph is in place when work is being performed on this 18-month job.

SH 31E Widening Project

• Limits: From FM 850 to FM 757
• Contractor: East Texas Bridge, Inc.
• Cost: $3.4 million

This project to widen SH 31E from FM 850 east of Tyler to FM 757 includes adding passing lanes for multiple sections of the roadway in both directions. The new passing lanes are open as final work is conducted. Expect shoulder closures.

Off-System Bridge Replacement Project

• Limits: County Roads (CR) 452 and 481
• Contractor: Pierce Construction
• Cost: $560,000

Both roads are closed to through traffic requiring motorists to use alternate routes to reach their destinations. Mow strip and topsoil work continues this week. Completion expected later this month.

SH 64

• Limits: from Chapel Hill to Arp
• Contractor: Drewery Construction of Nacogdoches
• Cost: $3.9 million

No work planned for this week on this job to add passing lanes between FM 2607 and Arp. Motorists are urged to use extra caution when traveling through this area.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY – Canton crews are conducting routine maintenance including filling ruts on a six-mile stretch of US 80 between Grand Saline (FM 857) and Silver Lake (FM 1255) starting Tuesday. Expect lane closures so be prepared to stop if necessary.

TxDOT contractor, Striping Technology, Inc., will have a crew adding striping on various roadways in Van Zandt County as part of the district-wide safety project to add centerline rumble strips. Expect lane closures.

Van Zandt County construction projects updates:

SH 64 Widening Project

• Limits: From FM 858 near Ben Wheeler to FM 314
• Contractor: A.L. Helmcamp, Inc., of Buffalo
• Cost: $7.4 million

Hot mix operations could start soon on this project to add shoulders and passing lanes to SH 64. The project began in December 2012 and is expected to be completed later this year. Lane closures are possible during hot mix operations.

SH 198 Widening Project

• Limits: from SH 243 in Canton southwest to 0.4 miles northeast of FM 316 near Phalba
• Contractor: Big Creek Construction, Ltd., of Waco
• Cost: $5 million

Work to widen the pavement to improve safety continues. Expect lane closures.

FM 314 Widening Project

• Limits: from I-20 to the Van Zandt/Henderson County line
• Contractor: A.L. Helmcamp, Inc., of Buffalo
• Cost: $11.9 million

Clean up and erosion control activities continue south of Edom. Expect lane closures.

I-20 Project

• Limits: From 1.6 miles east of FM 16 to 2.9 miles east of FM 314
• Contractor: APAC-Texas, Inc.
• Cost: $2.4 million

Clean up activities continue on this job. Expect daily lane closures. No project work occurs on Friday's.

Purtis Creek State Park Road Improvements Project 

• Limits: Within Purtis Creek State Park to just off FM 316
• Contractor: Construction Companies Group, LLC
• Cost: $90,549.00

The contractor continues efforts to rehab Park Road which runs .573 miles inside the park. It should take about a month to complete.

WOOD COUNTY – Mineola crews along with Special Crews are conducting mill and inlay operations on the westbound, outside lane of US 80 near FM 2869; in Downtown Quitman on SH 37; on FM 2966; and at the FM 515/SH 154 intersection. Expect lane closures with flaggers conducting traffic control at each location.

Wood County construction projects updates:

SH 37 Roadway Repair

• Limits: from FM 2088 in Quitman to 0.4 miles south of FM 515 in Winnsboro
• Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview
• Cost: $7.7 million

Work on driveways and pavement edges scheduled on this project from just south of FM 313 in Winnsboro southward toward FM 2088. Expect lane closures.

FM 2869 Project

• Limits: From FM 852, south of Winnsboro going south to FM 2088
• Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road, Ltd., of Longview

The contractor is installing driveway pipe and working on structures within the project limits. Widening activities expected from FM 852 southward to County Road 4530. Expect lane closures.