TxDOT to widen 28 miles of U.S. 281 in $249M project

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will spend $249 million to expand and upgrade roughly 28 miles of roadway between the cities of Lampasas and Evant. Construction is expected to begin in 2028. 

The project location takes place along the U.S. 281 corridor, spanning between U.S. 183 in Lampasas and the Hamilton County line further north. The U.S. 281 Lampasas to Evant project is part of a larger vision for the highway corridor originally outlined in a 2016 U.S. 281 master plan. The studied corridor would stretch from San Antonio to Wichita Falls. 

The U.S. 281 Lampasas to Evant project will directly address long-standing issues resulting from aging infrastructure. The highway was originally built in the 1930s and no longer has the capacity or safety measures needed to accommodate the region’s growing population. 

To resolve these issues, TxDOT will widen this 28-mile section of highway from two to four lanes, providing two travel lanes in each direction. The project also features installing a grassy median to separate northbound and southbound traffic lanes. 

The project vision also calls for building paved median crossovers along U.S. 281. These will provide better access both to and from each side of the highway. Additional safety features planned will include guardrails, sloped culvert end treatments and wide shoulders, among other features. 

Project leaders note that TxDOT will need more than 500 acres of right-of-way to facilitate development. As a result, the initiative will impact more than 160 parcels, comprised of approximately 12 privately-owned structures, 17 miles of overhead utilities and one transmission tower. It will displace nine residences and three businesses.

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