The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and its partners today celebrated a longawaited construction project to widen US 69 through Wells with a groundbreaking ceremony. The project, some 30 years in the making, will alleviate congestion and improve safety and mobility through the area.
According to TxDOT, the project consists of widening the existing two-lane roadway through Wells to a fourlane divided curb and gutter section with a continuous left turn lane. It begins two miles north of FM 1247 and extends south 2.9 miles to the Angelina County line. The widening of US 69 will also help alleviate the current bottleneck along this hurricane evacuation route.
The contractor, Longview Bridge and Road of Longview, is currently clearing the right-of-way, installing driveway culverts and safety end treatments on the east side of the roadway throughout the project limits. Work will soon begin to construct a detour to allow for a traffic shift to the east side of the roadway in late spring, early summer. The current schedule anticipates the completion of the permanent west side construction, and traffic switch, by the end of 2017. Construction on the east side of the roadway is expected to be completed in spring 2018. The $18.1 million project is expected to be completed in summer 2018.
Motorists can expect single lane closures during the detour construction. Lane closures and brief delays can also be expected for the duration of the project. TxDOT reminds motorists to use caution in the construction zone and to obey all traffic control devices.
TxDOT thanks it partners for their tireless efforts to ensure this project became a reality including the city of Wells, East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG), Cherokee County, and the USDA. We also appreciate the efforts of Klotz Associates and Gary Traylor and Associates.
For more information, contact Kathi White, public information officer, at (903) 510-9267 or kathi.white@txdot.gov.
