Brownwood News – Texas Department of Transportation District Engineer, Elias Rmeili, addressed the Brownwood Chamber of Commerce September luncheon Friday at the Brownwood Country Club. Rmeili discussed the various highway construction and improvement projects planned for Brown County over the next four years. TxDOT has budgeted to spend more than $22 million dollars on Brown County roads from now through August 2023.
Many of the smaller projects involve improvements to bridges and approaches, guardrails, and rumble strips for center lines and edge lines. Other projects include:
*** US 377 and Clements Street, adding a right-turn lane in front of CVS, to make it easier to turn right onto Clements Street, and relieve traffic congestion on 377 southbound.
*** US 67, 1.5 miles east of Coleman county line to the Coleman county line, reconstruct existing 4-lane undivided to 4-lane divided.
*** US 377 (Main Street) from Austin Ave to Harlow Overpass, widen 4-lane undivided to 4-lane divided with Flush Median
*** US 67, at Fort Worth and Western RR (between Early and Blanket), rework roadway and increase clearance at RR Underpass.
*** US 377, from near 18th Street to near Crockett Street, reconstruct roadway including curb and gutter, storm sewer, and sidewalk.
Other projects scheduled for September 2023 to August 2030 (subject to funding):
*** US 84, from FM 2126 (Access Road) to the new railroad overpass, construct 2-way left turn lane
*** FM 45 from Brownwood to Brady, add passing lanes
*** SH 279 from FM 2125 (Lake Dam Road) to FM 2632, reconstruct roadway
*** SH 279 from FM 2492 to FM 1849, construct right turn and left turn lanes
*** SH 279 from PR 15 to FM 1849, add passing lane.
Rmeili pointed out that most of TxDOT’s funding comes from the gasoline tax. Every gallon of gasoline has 38.5-cents tax included. Of that, 18.5-cents goes to the federal government, and the remaining 20-cents goes to TxDOT.
In response to a question about modern vehicles with lane-drift correction technology, and the upcoming autonomous driving cars, Rmeili said TxDOT does have a department in Austin working with automobile manufacturers to design roads that work in coordination with the new technologies, the goal being to increase traffic safety.
Rmeili also talked about the TxDOT “End the Streak” campaign. Texas currently has a streak of almost 19 years with at least one roadway death each day. The last deathless day on Texas roads was November 7, 2000. Most crashes and fatalities are due to distracted driving, drunken driving, or failure to use seat belts. TxDOT is doing all they can to engineer safe roads, but most accidents are due to human causes. TxDOT recommends:
*** Always use your seat belts
*** Drive the speed limit, or slower, depending on road or weather conditions
*** Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
*** When driving, put your phone away or set to “Do Not Disturb.”
story by Mike Blagg
