Transportation dollars are flowing throughout Texas
by Mary Scott Nabers
CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
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Texas received about $2.6 billion for transportation projects. The most recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) shows that $1.295 billion has been obligated and more than $760 million in construction contracts has been awarded. That still leaves millions more for additional projects.
Some upcoming projects in Texas include:
- Construction of new roadway lanes on I-35 in Bell County. This more than $128 million project will extend 5.2 miles from Amity Road to US 190 and is projected to go to bid in January 2010.
- In Bexar County, a $5.4 million project will construct new roadway lanes on 36th Street in San Antonio from U.S. 90 to Growdon.
- I-35 in Hays County will see a $7.8 million construction project that provides for a new overpass/underpass. It is expected to be bid early next year.
- In Bell County, a $538,000 traffic management technology installation project could be bid by April of next year.
- A $1.5 million roadway resurfacing project covering 1.8 miles is on tap for Caldwell in Austin County.
- Collin County will get a $2.9 million, 2.2-mile bicycle/pedestrian path on Alma Road to south of Renner Road.
- A $6.6 million project is in the works in Dallas as a contract is expected in March of next year for a new bicycle/pedestrian path there. It will begin at the existing trailhead at Moore Park and extend to the North Trinity River Levee downtown.
- In El Paso, a $57.2 million project is expected to go to contract late this year for construction of freeway ramps on IH-10 from FM 659 to west of Eastlake Blvd.
- A bridge will be replaced on FM 660 in Ellis County at a cost of more than $551,000. The contract is expected to be awarded in December. The bridge is at the tributary of Bear Creek.
And there's more on the way! This winter, USDOT will also announce $8 billion in grants to help facilitate high speed rail throughout the United States and another $1.5 billion in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grants.
The TIGER grants are awarded to provide for investment in surface transportation infrastructure projects. The funds can be spent for highway and bridge work, public transportation projects, passenger and freight rail transportation and port infrastructure.
Contractors interested in this type of work should watch carefully as current projects are awarded and as additional funding is announced. There is an abundance of work yet to be awarded in Texas.
