TxDOT reveals 30-year plans for Interstate 30 corridor from Royse City to Texarkana

TxDOT reveals 30-year plans for Interstate 30 corridor from Royse City to Texarkana Image

• TxDOT reveals 30-year plans for Interstate 30 corridor from Royse City to Texarkana

News Staff Tue, 05/14/2024 - 19:28 Subhead | Transportation Summit Long Caption

Lance Simmons, chief engineer for Texas Department of Transportation, was the keynote speaker at the Northeast Texas Transportation Summit Friday, May 10 at Sulphur Springs Country Club. Other speakers included Paul Strahan, manager of the Paris Regional Airport; Paul Mehrlich, manager of the Texarkana Regional Airport; and Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation President Chris Brown, who filled in for Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport Manager Joey Baker on a panel discussing the impact of regional airports on industry development. Staff Photo by Tammy Vinson

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From TxDOT Reports Ark Tex Council Of Governments and Sulphur Springs/Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation held the Northeast Texas Rural Transportation Summit last Friday, featuring two speakers from Texas Department of Transportation to discuss its 30-year plan for the Interstate 30 corridor running through six counties from Royse City to Texarkana.

Dan Perry, P.E., TxDoT’s Director of Transport Planning and Development for the Paris District, presented a slideshow detailing the plan goals, which are:

„ To maintain a safe system;

„ Improve mobility along I-30;

„ Connect communities; and

„ Realize identified solutions.

The overall goal is to upgrade I-30 to a freeway freight corridor with a minimum of six main lanes and efficient interchanges and intersections to increase safety and mobility in Northeast Texas.

Short range improvements include needed intersection and access improvements to increase safety and reduce congestion, while midrange improvements will improve grade separations to accommodate six lanes of traffic with a minimum 18.5-foot clearance. Long range improvements include upgrading I-30 to six main lanes and improving the geometry of main lanes where applicable.

Hopkins County I-30 study project candidates include:

• SH-154 (Broadway Street) Interchange Redesign: This project is unfunded.

• Addition of turn around bridges;

• Additional width for turning lanes to relieve congestion

• SH-19 (Hillcrest Drive) Interchange Redesign: This project is unfunded.

• Addition of turn around bridges; and

• Reconstruct ramps and frontage roads to relieve congestion and reduce confusion

• Medium and Long Term Projects: These projects are unfunded. - Additional interchange, ramp acceleration/ deceleration improvements; and - Conversion to six lanes (Targeting FY 2035).

Hopkins County Projects

• SH-19 North: Several safety improvements implemented , including:

• Posted speed limit reduced to 65 mph (55 mph in vicinity of FM 71);

• Four-way stop with left turn lanes installed at FM 71 intersection;

• In-lane rumble strips with signage at major roadway intersections; Left turn lane at FM 1537 installed with illumination;

Hunt County projects and statuses include:

FM 2642 — Complete;

• FM 1903—FM 1570— Monty Stratton Parkway: This phase of the project was let, or officially receiving and opening bids and determining the apparent low bidder, in October 2022. The low bid was $138.2 million, and the project is 26% complete.

• Reconstructing the FM 1903 and FM 1570 interchanges for six main lanes; and

• Making improvements at Monty Stratton Parkway.

• CR 2511—FM 1570— FM 36: This phase of the project was let in October 2023.

The low bid was $188.5 million, and the project is 19% complete.

• Reconstruct FM 1565 and FM 36 interchanges for six main lanes; and

• Construct new overpass at CR 2511

• IH-30 Main Lanes: This phase has a target date of September 2027. Letting was $19 million, and the project is 64% funded.

• Build to six main lanes from Rockwall County line to Monty Stratton Parkway.

• Monty Stratton Parkway to FM 513 (Campbell/ Lone Oak exit):

- Currently developing a schematic to convert to six main lanes;

- Will convert all frontage roads to one way operation; and

- Will replace most overpasses, including a ‘flip’ of SH-24 interchange.

Lamar/Red River County Projects

• U.S. 82: Developing schematics and final plans to convert from two to four lane highways:

• Fannin County Line to SL 286: December 2026 Letting;

• FM 196 to Clarksville: Partially funded;

• Clarksville Loop: Funded for a July 2027 letting;

• Clarksville to Bowie County Line: Unfunded

• U.S. 271: Developing schematic and final plans to convert from two to four lane highway.

• SL 286 to SH 37: Funded for FY 2026;

• SH 37 to Titus County Line: Funded for FY 2027

• Strong local support for both roadways communicated to TxDOT

Loop 286 in Paris: Funded for FY 2027

• Widening US 82 and US 271 to 4 lanes makes Loop 286 a hub for five 4-lane highways as major points of entry/exit;

• Finalizing a feasibility study to increase safety and reduce congestion around Paris;

• Study will prioritize short, medium and long-range projects to mitigate current traffic demands as well as projected traffic volumes;

• Developing intersection/ interchange improvements at Collegiate North and South;

• Study will propose several interchange improvements (including at US 271 South) as well as expanded frontage road system;

• www.Loop286.com.