Neches River Bridge to go to contract

It has been the talk of I-10 travelers for quite some time. Now, TxDOT is just one step away from beginning a project to rebuild the Neches River Bridge (Purple Heart Memorial) in Beaumont.

In late November, the Texas Transportation Commission is scheduled to "let" the big contract to build a new structure crossing the Neches River. Once the contract is selected and awarded, whomever is chosen will get to work on perhaps one of the most visible...and talked about...projects in our part of Texas.

The project is pretty straight-forward: rebuild the Neches River bridge. The execution of the job is what will be a challenge.

Built in the 1960's, and added to in the 70's, the bridge will be replaced with a segmental bridge. Somewhat similar to the two bridges recently completed at the Trinity River. But don't expect to see any dirt turning anytime soon.

The first six months of the project involved installing new high-mast lighting at the interchange. However, in the spring or early summer, the contractor will get to work on moving traffic and begin the process of building a new structure.

The good news: There will always be two lanes of traffic westbound and two lanes of traffic eastbound.
The bad news:  There will still be some slowdowns, especially during the phases where the downtown exits are closed and traffic is re-routed.
The good news: There are incentives for the contractor to get those phases of the project open much quicker so those delays will be minimal.

In the meantime, we will keep you posted as to the progress and what is taking place during construction. Shoot us an email or leave a post if you have a question.

Marc S.

Now...on Facebook

Looking for a new and interesting Facebook friend with important information you can actually use? Many people across Southeast Texas keep up with friends and family on Facebook. Now, you can keep up with the latest lane closures and construction projects across Southeast Texas. Cruisin’ Texas and the Texas Department of Transportation’s Beaumont District has teamed up to provide important highway information in several hi-tech ways.

“Social media is here to stay,” said Tex Norwood, co-founder of Cruisin’ Texas. “Our goal is to give Southeast Texans as much information concerning highway projects on their computers and even cell phones.”

Aside from local news and events, Cruisin’ now provides information concerning construction projects and lane closures at no charge. The site also has a Facebook page dedicated to lane closures and other important transportation information within the district’s eight-county area.

“We are onboard with social media,” said Tucker Ferguson, Beaumont District Engineer. “This partnership with Cruisin’ Texas opens great possibilities to tell Texas about what our district is doing and what we plan to do to improve the highway system.”

Cruisin’ and TxDOT plan to expand their transportation coverage by establishing dedicated project pages including the upcoming effort to rebuild the Neches River Bridge (Purple Heart Memorial) on I-10 in Beaumont. Meanwhile, for the latest in local and transportation news, simply visit www.cruisintexas.com. For information on lane closures and other transportation projects simply send a friend request to www.facebook.com/setxtraffic

Marc S.

Vidor Loop Update

A loop around Vidor?  It's one of the most talked about highway projects in Vidor.

The project would involve building a loop around the east side of the city. It would stretch from the north of the Vidor to south of the railroad tracks.

The proposed Vidor Loop, or FM 299, is in its very beginning stages. No money has been identified for the project and environmental issues still need to be dealt with. The Army Corps of Engineers as well as other federal and state resource agencies still need to give the green light for the project to even get underway.


Then there is the issue of how to pay for the $39 million project.

No money has been identified. That’s where Pass-through financing comes in. Pass-through financing is a rather new, yet simple process to get projects funded.

Simply put, Orange County would front the money for the entire project including developing the plans, buying the needed right of way, and adjusting utilities. The county would then begin construction. Once completed, TxDOT would reimburse the county at a negotiated rate and timeframe for only the cost of construction when the roadway is open to traffic.

The commission recently gave the district the authority to begin the process of those negotiations. TxDOT will begin meeting with county officials to discuss the cost, design and other important factors to get the project from raw land to a new highway. This doesn’t mean any money has been set aside, or, has even been identified. The commission’s approval simply means TxDOT and the county can start discussing and negotiating the fine lines of the contract.

When can construction begin? It depends on several factors: whether the County will provide the funding for the project, if TxDOT and the county can negotiate a contract that satisfies all parties, and if the state and federal resource agencies give the environmental approval.

Marc S