(ROCKWALL, TX – August 31, 2017) Road projects were the focus of a county update provided by County Judge David Sweet and County Commissioner David Magness at the Rockwall Chamber Partnership Luncheon presented by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall last week.
Magness provided an update on perhaps the biggest transportation project facing the county – the widening of I-30 from Bass Pro Drive to the Hunt County line at FM 2642. In a recent meeting between TxDOT, Rockwall, Fate and Royse City, Magness said they received a general conservative estimate of a start date beginning construction on the project in early 2023.
“That sounds like a long way away, but I can tell you they are working hard and I would be surprised if we’re not able to start on that project a little quicker,” Magness said.
The project is part of a bigger plan which will involve the reconstruction and widening of I-30 from downtown Dallas to just outside of Greenville. Magness said there are three major issues TxDOT and the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) has to consider when it comes to construction of I-30 going into downtown Dallas.
“First is the tremendous amount of volume that it carries, and in rebuilding that road you have to do something with that traffic,” Magness said. “Right now, they haven’t got the right combination to do that. In addition to something that we never think about is drainage – they have to do something with the water both on the interim and in the final product. Those two obstacles bring about the third problem which is increased cost. It’s a money issue, and it’s such an issue that TxDOT is even studying a corridor of I-30 that goes east and south of Fair Park. That’s a possibility for 2040. I don’t know how realistic that is, but at least it’s being looked at.”
Magness said another area of focus for Rockwall County as far as road projects go is the heavy population growth in eastern Collin County. According to Magness, TxDOT and NCTCOG are in the process of conducting massive studies to come up with a solution for the transportation problem in that area.
“I think those will involve Rockwall County. We don’t know what that is, but I expect NCTCOG will come to the Road Consortium in September and have a report for us to consider on that area,” Magness said.
Another road project the county has its sights on involves the widening of SH 276 from SH 205 to FM 549 to a four-lane urban roadway. Magness said the project is already funded, with an estimated construction start date in late 2018. Magness added that with the rest of the funds remaining from the Road Bond program, he believes the county can complete the 276 project fully through from SH 205 all the way to the Hunt County line.
“That’s pretty ambitious to think if we could do that, but with the help from NCTCOG and TxDOT, I do believe that it’s doable and we should be able to determine if we can get those done in the next five years or so,” Magness said.
For the latest information regarding road projects in Rockwall County, visit rockwallcountytexas.com/279/Road-Consortium.
By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News.
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