Local Highway Project Cuts
Other than the $46 million 'mall-to-mall' frontage road improvement on West Loop 340, and the $5 million overpass on State Highway 31 at FM 939 (new landfill area), the next four years will be lean times for local highway projects.
Casualties are the $12 million Spring Valley Road upgrade in Hewitt, the $8 million State Highway 6 widening in the Speegleville area, the $10 million overpass on State Highway 31 at FM 2311, and the $33 million in safety improvements along the southern portion of I-35.
Perpetually discussed (and invariably postponed) is the project finally to give Waco a real, functioning Loop around the east part of our area, and provide a serviceable alternative to I-35. That the roughly 4 miles of East Loop 340 between I-35 and State Highway 6 (east Waco / Bellmead) is still mostly 2 lanes, with traffic lights and few overpasses, is a real impediment to improving transportation flow around the city.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the fact that South Loop 340 (Brazos river to I-35) is freeway quality doesn't help when one is forced to travel that 4-mile stretch of East Loop 340. Heaven help you if you are ever in that area on Friday afternoon.
OTOH, money and political representation talks when it comes to these local road priorities, and let's face it, East Waco and Bellmead have been deficient in both for a long time.
Other than the $46 million 'mall-to-mall' frontage road improvement on West Loop 340, and the $5 million overpass on State Highway 31 at FM 939 (new landfill area), the next four years will be lean times for local highway projects.
Casualties are the $12 million Spring Valley Road upgrade in Hewitt, the $8 million State Highway 6 widening in the Speegleville area, the $10 million overpass on State Highway 31 at FM 2311, and the $33 million in safety improvements along the southern portion of I-35.
Perpetually discussed (and invariably postponed) is the project finally to give Waco a real, functioning Loop around the east part of our area, and provide a serviceable alternative to I-35. That the roughly 4 miles of East Loop 340 between I-35 and State Highway 6 (east Waco / Bellmead) is still mostly 2 lanes, with traffic lights and few overpasses, is a real impediment to improving transportation flow around the city.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the fact that South Loop 340 (Brazos river to I-35) is freeway quality doesn't help when one is forced to travel that 4-mile stretch of East Loop 340. Heaven help you if you are ever in that area on Friday afternoon.
OTOH, money and political representation talks when it comes to these local road priorities, and let's face it, East Waco and Bellmead have been deficient in both for a long time.
