Bastrop–County commissioners met Dec. 15 to firm up a list of highway projects they’d like to see if President elect Barak Obama, as suggested, wins approval for a new US economic stimulus package early in 2009, including significant public works projects. Here’s their Christmas letter to Santa, even if if comes next year:
The top two or three projects involve moving traffic more quickly and safely into and through Bastrop along Texas 71, mostly on the to-do list of the Texas Department of Transportation which presently has no way to pay for them.
1. Overpasses on State Highway 71 at the intersections with FM 969 and FM 20 on the city’s western border.
2. A similar overpass project at Texas 71 and Tahitian Drive on Bastrop’s eastern border.
3. One million dollars for “cable barriers” in the median on Texas 71 in the stretch of highway between Bastrop and the Travis County line.
4. County commissioners would also like to see TxDOT complete replacement of a series of rural bridges on county roads which the state agency has slated for improvements but now says it has no money to pay for. The county has already spent its money making improvements for other bridges equal to 5 percent of the TxDOT expected costs.
5. Commissioner would also like to see the remaining stretch of US 290 between Elgin and Giddings turned into a divided highway with a grassy median between the lanes going in different directions between Houston and Austin. This may be the least likely project to win funding, according to Pct. 1 Commissioner Peter Hicks. One reason–for this effort to move forward, TxDOT needs to buy more right of way and more design work, meaning it’s not ready to release to contractors even if the money became available.
Stay tuned.