Texas poised for record $85 billion-plus in road construction
Texas highway officials are planning a $85 billion, decade-long building spree to improve driving conditions across the state, a record-breaking investment that comes as construction costs are climbing and many residents are clamoring for car-free options., unveiled Friday, directs federal and state funding to highway, bridge, transit, airport, ferry, bike and pedestrian projects that the Texas Department of Transportation plans to tee up over the next 10 years.
Work is underway on some of the Houston region’s most notorious bottlenecks, including the Interstate 69 and Loop 610 interchange near The Galleria; Texas 288 and Loop 610 near NRG Park; and western portions of• $340 million to build new bridges to carry I-10 over the San Jacinto River, replacing aging spans where barge collisions have closed lanes and snarled traffic;
The project, which TxDOT officials defend as a necessary upgrade to a severely aged freeway desperately needing safety improvements and more capacity, remains paused by a federal review and pending lawsuit by Harris County. Officials have said they are hopeful of a resolution allowing the project to proceed, but only if it is palatable to state and local leaders.
Stop TxDOT said the project should be re-examined from the first step, calling for public meetings to further gauge public interest. Members of the group continue to lambaste the decision to proceed. Despite the alarm at some of the state’s biggest projects, there are also important spending changes to the state’s long-range plans, said Jay Crossley, executive director of the Austin nonprofit Farm & City, which advocates for limited highway expansion in favor of more maintenance and safety upgrades.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fixer-upper homes cost 45% less than comparable turnkey homes: studyThe median cost of a fixer-upper home in the U.S. is 45% lower than the median cost of a turnkey home, according to a new real estate analysis from Porch, a home improvement website.
Read more »
Man on prescribed meds charged with DWI after he drove off I-45, crashed into light pole, police sayAuthorities in Shenandoah have charged a man with a DWI after he reportedly crashed into a light pole off I-45.
Read more »
Man on prescribed meds charged with DWI after he drove off I-45, crashed into light pole, police sayAuthorities in Shenandoah have charged a man with a DWI after he reportedly crashed into a light pole off I-45.
Read more »
I Am the Person Who Brings This $16 Bag Clip with Me to RestaurantsIt’s small enough to stash anywhere, is easy to open and deploy, and takes up almost zero room at the table
Read more »
Shinzo Abe's killer held a grudge over mother's bankruptcy, police sayYamagami jury\u002Drigged a weapon from parts bought online, spending months plotting the attack, even attending other Abe campaign events, including one a day…
Read more »