FM 487 widening among funded TxDOT projects

Submitted by Cameron1 on

A $5.587 million project to widen a portion of FM 487 between Rockdale and Davilla is among the 22 Proposition 1 highway projects approved last week by the Texas Transportation Commission.
According to Bryan District Spokesman Bob Colwell, the project to widen FM 487 from CR 402 to just north of CR 235 has been contracted to Big Creek Construction Ltd.  Construction is scheduled to begin after the first of year and will take about 10 months to complete, Colwell said.
Three other projects were also approved for the Bryan District, including two projects in Brazos County and one in Madison County, totaling more than $4.6 million.
Last week, the Transportation Commission approved 22 projects from Proposition 1 funding totaling more than $304 million worth of roadway construction, rehabilitation and restoration for improved safety, mobility and connectivity.
Commissioners have now approved final contract awards on 115 of the 200 planned Proposition 1 projects across the state.
Proposition 1, which dedicates a portion of oil and gas tax revenue to the state highway fund, was approved last November by Texas voters. The 200 planned Proposition 1 projects will result in more than 800 miles of rehabilitated highways; nearly 500 miles of new highway lanes; 114 bridges replaced, widened or rehabilitated; and an additional 159 miles of passing lanes on rural highways. Metropolitan Planning Organizations and TxDOT districts worked together and with the public to formulate the list of projects.
Many TxDOT districts plan to use maintenance funds to repair or rehabilitate highways affected by production in energy sectors. These funds, along with Proposition 1 funds specifically allocated for energy sector needs, will allow projects in impacted areas to receive nearly 30 percent of total 2015 Proposition 1 funding. 
In addition to addressing congestion, Proposition 1 funding also addresses safety. Over the past five years, there were 248 fatalities and more than 23,000 crashes on the highway segments where these Proposition 1 funded projects are located. The work planned in these areas is designed to enhance safety for drivers and reduce the number of crashes, fatalities and injuries.