Those traveling west of Rockdale along US 79 have probably noticed “new” signs and some heavy equipment along the roadway.
Get used to seeing them because they are going to be around for awhile.
The milling and overlay project on US 79 began Oct. 19 and is scheduled to continue through January.
Knife River has begun operations to fix existing mill in rumble strips and to mill the shoulders to address some of the edge dropoff conditions, said Bob Colwell of the Texas Department of Transportation which is funding the $1.91 million project.
Paving should begin soon, but the work schedule is dependent on weather conditions, he noted.
The work on US 79 will affect the roadway from 2.4 miles west of FM 487 to 2 miles west of FM 1786.
“Drivers can expect delays and various lane closures throughout the duration of the project,” he said in an email to The Reporter.
The work on the changes to US 79 that passes through downtown Rockdale will get underway Nov. 9. It was scheduled to start Nov. 2, but a meeting Oct. 30 revealed more details that needed to be addressed.
The downtown work will change the current 4-lane striping into three-lane striping with a lane heading east, a lane heading west and a center lane for left turns.
There is no plan to detour traffic while the downtown work continues, Colwell said.
“There will be a number of operations that will make use of the two-way left turn lane, to allow for two lanes of traffic. This may cause traffic to move more slowly, as citizens wanting to make left turns, will now have to occupy the traffic lane until the proper break in oncoming traffic allows them to make their turn. There will be some operations that will require onelane, two-way traffic flow and these operations will be done at night to minimize impacts to the traveling public. Overall, during this time, I would expect delays in general, with the worst being during commuting hours,” Colwell said.
The change in the number of lanes will end the prob lem drivers have with the four lane of traffic funneling into two at the Scarbrough intersection with US 79, he said.
Some drivers find themselves caught when the outside west-bound land at that intersection turns into a rightturn only lane.
“We will be restriping the roadway to have one-lane in each direction with a center turn lane as the finished product of this project,” he said.
The sidewalks in the downtown area along US 79 will be made Americans with Disabilities Act compliant with the addition of ramps, railing and fixing anything that needs repair, Colwell said.
Here is what else will be done to the downtown area that is in addition to the work on the roadway:
Ackerman Street
• Replace all existing signal heads and ped heads.
• Remove existing ped pole and install ped poles and ped push buttons. Each push button (PB1-PB8) includes and R10-3e sign.
• Install two additional 4-section signal heads (SH9 &SH10).
• Remove existing RADARs and install Gridsmart system.
• Install two new ground boxes.
• Install new electrical service and service pole with battery backup unit/remove existing service.
• Replace signs with new signs.
• Remove existing ground mounted cabinet and replace ground box beneath it.
• Replace existing cabinet.
Main Street
• Replace all existing signal heads and ped heads.
• Install two additional 4-section signal heads (SH9 and SH10).
• Remove existing RADARs and install Gridsmart system. • Install new electrical
• Install new electrical service and service pole with battery backup unit/remove existing service.
• Put up new signs.
• Remove existing ground mounted cabinet and replace ground box beneath it.
• Replace existing pole mounted cabinet.
• Remove existing ped poles.
• Install ped poles and push buttons and tie conduit into new ground box. Each push button (PB1-PB8) includes an R10-3e sign.
Wilcox Street
• Replace all existing signal heads.
• Install two additional 4-section signal heads (SH9 and SH10).
• Remove existing RADARs and install Gridsmart system.
• Install new electrical service and service pole/remove existing service.
• Replace signs with new signs.
• Replace existing cabinet and install battery backup unit to new cabinet.
• Install ped heads and ped push buttons. Each push button (PB1-PB4) includes an R10-3e sign.
• Install luminaire as denoted.
This project was contracted to Big Creek Construction for $4.54 million.
The project is expected to be complete in May 2022.
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