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Bridge closure
Motorists traveling around Lufkin’s south side should prepare to use alternate routes to reach their destinations starting next week. On Thursday, July 23, the Southbound Direct Connector Bridge will close.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the closure is required as the contractor, Zachry Construction, reconstructs the U.S. 59 mainlane south of the bridge. Weather permitting, the work is expected to take about two weeks with the bridge re-opening around August 7th.
During the closure, Loop 287 traffic will be required to use the South First Street exit to continue south on U.S. 59. The on-ramp just past El Chico will also re-open to for U.S. 59 southbound traffic.
Caution is advised when traveling through this and all work zones. Remember traffic fines double when workers are present.
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Lane Closures
The Texas Department of Transportation and its U.S. 59 South Near Term Project contractor, Zachry Construction Corporation of San Antonio, will set up a week-long lane closure starting Monday, July 6. Motorists are urged to use caution as this will cause some slowing of traffic flow. According to TxDOT, the contractor will be pouring a section of concrete pavement in the area between El Chico and Huntington State Bank. Traffic will be moved to the outside lane going onto the Southbound Frontage Road. The Southbound Direct Connector will remain open during this work which is expected to take about a week, weather permitting. TxDOT urges motorists to continue to exhibit patience and to watch for traffic control devices designed to help them drive through the work zones. Motorists are also encouraged to allow extra time to reach their destinations and to use alternate routes when possible. Remember traffic fines double when workers are present.
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Projects Planned for This Week
The Texas Department of Transportation and its U.S. 59 project contractor, Zachry Construction, has work planned in several areas this week including preparations for building the new Tulane Bridge. Motorists are urged to use alternate routes when possible to avoid delays. Here is a glimpse at work planned for this week June 22-26. On Wednesday, June 24, the Eastbound Loop 287 will shut down at 10 p.m. to move the traffic barrier for work to begin on the main Tulane Drive Bridge and the Tulane U-Turn Bridges. Traffic will be diverted to the Eastbound Frontage Road at the exit in front of The Palms Shopping Center. Motorists should expect changes and use caution when traveling through the area. Eastbound Loop 287 will reopen at 6 a.m. Thursday, June 25 with traffic shifted to a new allignment. TxDOT expects the U-turn bridges to open in late Fall 2009. On Thursday, June 25, the Westbound Frontage Road will close from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. for a concrete pour in front of Angelina Savings Bank. During these three hours the Tulane Drive via the Westbound Frontage Road will be inaccessible. Tulane Drive traffic can make a right turn on the frontage road. Friday, June 26, Business US 59 northbound will close from 12 a.m. until 6 a.m. as the concrete for the U.S. 59 mainlanes is poured between the flyovers. The exit ramp from the frontage road to Business 59 near Casa Ole will close. Drivers can use the eastbound and westbound frontage roads to access South First Street.
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Avoid Loop 287 westbound frontage road
Motorists will want to avoid the Loop 287 westbound frontage road on Thursday as crews begin concrete paving work. According to TxDOT, crews will begin pouring concrete on the frontage road at approximately 3 a.m. Thursday in front of Angelina Savings Bank. This will require stopping traffic periodically. At 5:30 a.m. the westbound frontage road will be closed from Tulane Drive to the South First Street exit in front of IHOP as crews pour that section of concrete. Meanwhile on Monday, crews will conduct a nighttime operation to hang beams for the northbound direct connect. Work will begin at 8 p.m. with U.S. 59 north traffic being diverted to turn right on to FM 1877/Harmony Hill Drive. This traffic will be directed to FM 58 to get back to U.S. 59. At 10 p.m. the eastbound frontage road will be closed and both will re-open to traffic at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Here’s what these changes will mean for southbound traffic: Southbound traffic on South First wanting to go east on Loop 287 must use an alternate route. Traffic traveling on the eastbound frontage road (at LAZERTAG and Beard Jewelers) must also use an alternate route. Use of the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive U-turn Bridge is encouraged. The Lufkin Police Department will assist with traffic control during the nighttime operation.
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TxDOT Update on 59 Project
The night time operation planned for Loop 287 tonight has been postponed until Thursday evening February 26. The operation was to prepare for a traffic switch so that work could begin on the south side of the Tulane Drive Bridge.
Work is now underway on the U.S. 59 mainlanes and motorists have no doubt noticed that the mainlanes at U.S. 59 and Loop 287 have been torn up as the construction process begins. The southbound mainlanes at Loop 287 have been reduced to one travel lane for a short distance. The southbound frontage road has been opened and motorists can stay on that lane to reach businesses such as Huntington State Bank, Wal-Mart, Sam’s, etc. Those who want to continue on U.S. 59 to points further south will notice a temporary ramp installed in the vicinity of HSB that will put them back on the mainlanes.
By 5 p.m. today, TxDOT will be routing U.S. 59 northbound traffic onto the newly constructed frontage road. Once motorists travel under the recently completed Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge they will enter a temporary northbound ramp onto the frontage road. They will remain on the two-lane ramp until exiting back onto U.S. 59. Those in the left lane must enter U.S. 59 which will take them into Lufkin. The right lane will be routed around the eastbound frontage road to continue east or go to Loop 287.
One other note, Harmony Hill Drive/FM 1877 traffic cannot enter U.S. 59 but must stay on the frontage road. However, northbound traffic in the right lane can exit the frontage road onto Harmony Hill Drive/FM 1877.
Traffic has been flowing relatively smoothly with some delays which could be short or long depending on the time of day. The traveling public is encouraged to use caution when traveling through the construction zone and to look for posted advanced warning and detour signs. Also slow down and exhibit patience while traveling through the area for the safety and protection of motorists, pedestrians and workers.
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Detour Routes
A reader asked a great question about how drivers can get to places like Huntington State Bank and El Chico from Crown Colony or that direction since construction has blocked off the easy way to get there.
TxDOT officials gave a couple of ways to get around construction. One would be to drive up the highway until you see a place where you can do a U-turn and then turn around and go back that direction. The other would be to take College Drive north to Loop 287 to South First Street.
“FM 58 is also a good route for getting around the construction,” said TxDOT spokesperson Kathi White. “While this week’s work will cause some delays much of the traffic pattern will remain the same. Motorists are reminded to look for posted detour signs as work gets underway on the U.S. 59 mainlanes.”
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59 Changes
Drivers should expect changes and delays next week on the U.S. 59 South Near Term Project.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, major work on the mainlanes will start Monday. The southbound lanes will be reduced to one lane for work at the intersection of U.S. 59 and the eastbound frontage road. This work will take about one week to complete.
On Tuesday, workers will route all northbound U.S. 59 traffic onto the newly constructed frontage road just past the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge. This will remain in effect until further notice. Updates on other areas of the project include:
Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge:
Work is winding down.
The new traffic signals are now fully operational.
Southbound U-turn land is open.
Northbound U-turn is expected to open in the next few days.
Minor construction to be completed on main bridge with little impact on traffic.
Tulane Drive Bridge:
Loop 287 shuts down on Tuesday as the contractor prepares to switch traffic.
Night time operation 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Move westbound traffic to the north wall.
Eastbound traffic moves to the center lane of Loop 287.
This will allow the same work conducted on the northbound side of Tulane Bridge to be done on the southbound side.
Eastbound Frontage Road:
Delays can be expected next week as construction continues in the area.
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Ahead of Schedule
Construction workers could complete the U.S. 59 South Near Term Project ahead of time. Over the next few weeks drivers will notice several changes in the layout. According to TxDOT, Zachry Construction Corporation plans to open up several parts of the newly constructed areas over the next few weeks.
Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge:
Stripe the main bridge on Thursday, February 12 and open it on Friday the 13th.
U-turn bridges will open in a couple of weeks.
Frontage Roads/US 59:
Open the northbound and southbound frontage roads at the end of next week.
Begin construction on the U.S. 59 mainlanes.
Close the U-turn under the southbound direct connector.
Tulane Drive and Bridge:
Re-open Tulane Drive (south side) to two-way traffic within the next week.
Begin construction on the south end of the bridge within a couple of weeks.
This will necessitate a traffic switch on Loop 287.
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U.S 59 Project Update
Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge
Motorists can expect minor to moderate delays through next week as work continues to complete the pavement installation on the east side of the bridge.
TxDOT urges motorists to use alternate routes to avoid the construction area if at all possible as the traffic flow will be slowed with very tight turns.
The bridge, U-turn bridges and intersections, including traffic signals, are expected to open to traffic in about a month.
Frontage Roads:
According to TxDOT, the northbound and southbound frontage roads could open to traffic by mid-February.
The eastbound frontage road could open to traffic in March.
These dates are subject to change due t weather conditions.
Tulane Drive Bridge:
Work continues in preparation for building the new bridge.
Continuing to construct bridge foundations on the IHOP side of Loop 287. Drivers can expect minor delays as trucks enter and leave the work zone.
Traffic will continue as is on the westbound frontage road.
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Truck hits U.S. 59 southbound bridge
A truck carrying a piece of heavy equipment struck the U.S. 59 southbound bridge at Loop 287 early Monday afternoon causing major damage to several beams. TxDOT has restricted traffic on the bridge to two lanes until further notice.
TxDOT hopes to let an emergency contract this week to repair the bridge at an estimated cost of $50,000 and hopes to re-open the bridge by the end of January. A contractor recently completed $20,000 in repairs after a truck struck the bridge last summer.
TxDOT District Maintenance crews cleared debris Monday from the roadway to keep the Loop traffic moving. The Lufkin Police Department directed traffic during the clean up.
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US 59 Project set to shutdown for holidays
From TXDot
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Zachry Construction Corporation, its contractor on the U.S. 59 South Near Term Project, are preparing to halt the work until after the holidays but not before giving the traveling public a little Christmas present of sorts. According to TxDOT, the mainlanes of the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge are expected to be completed and opened by Monday, weather permitting.
Construction on the entire project will be shut down December 24th with work starting again on Monday, January 5, 2009. Motorists are reminded to use caution and to obey all traffic control devices when traveling through the area during this holiday season.
The planned opening of the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Bridge’s mainlanes, which could happen as early as Saturday, is dependent upon the weather during the preceding days. A day of inclement weather could set the opening back. The opening does not include the U-turn bridges.
The traveling public can expect various lanes closures in the day time and at night throughout the life of the project, which still has some 30 months remaining. On January 7th and 8th a night time operation will be implemented at the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge while the contractor conducts span work on the bridges. This will require closing both the northbound and southbound mainlanes of U.S. 59 at the bridge as well as the bridge itself. U.S. 59 traffic will be re-routed to the ramps.
As always, TxDOT encourages motorists to allow extra time to reach their destinations and to take alternate routes using the posted detour signs. Caution is advised when traveling through these and all work zones. Remember traffic fines double when workers are present.
For more information, call Kathi White, Public Information Officer, at (936) 633-4395 or David Collmorgen, Lufkin Area Engineer, at (936) 633-4331. Information about TxDOT is also available at www.txdot.gov.
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Winter Driving Tips
Icy conditions last week caused more than one wreck. TxDOT wants to make sure drivers do everything they can to avoid wrecks when cold temperatures turn rain into sleet and ice on the roadways. Following is a list of tips TxDOT advises drivers to follow during cold winter months.
Make sure your vehicle is maintained for winter weather conditions by checking fuel and antifreeze level. Never drive with your fuel gauge near empty.
Check tires, lights and battery. Use no-freeze fluid in the windshield washer reservoir to help keep vehicle windows clear in cold temperatures.
Drive with caution on bridges and overpasses since elevated roadways freeze over first.
A little snow or ice can be just as dangerous as a lot of it. Snow and ice can melt as the temperature rises during the day only to refreeze as glazed ice as temperatures dip below freezing again.
Listen to weather broadcasts prior to and during travel. Call TxDOT’s toll-free highway conditions at 1-800-452-9292 or use Texas road conditions on the Internet at http://www.txdot.gov/travel/road_conditions.htm.
During these conditions only make necessary trips.
Stay in the vehicle if stranded or stalled and wait for help. Use car heater sparingly and with plenty of ventilation while doing so. Stay awake and move around as much as possible to maintain circulation and body warmth.
For sever winter weather keep flashlight, new batteries, jumper cables, matches, abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even floor mats), shovel, ice scraper, warning devices (like flares) and blankets in the vehicle. For long trips, take along water, non-perishable food, medicine and a cell phone. Inform others route and arrival time.
Plan ahead by allowing plenty of time for travel. Be prepared for possible delays by leaving early.
Buckle up and use child safety seats properly.
Do not drink and drive.
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Whitehouse Drive open for business
Eleven months and $4.5 million later Whitehouse Drive has officially opened. Motorists can now take a scenic drive over a creek lined with trees to drive to FM 819 on Whitehouse Road, which runs behind Wal-Mart.
Longview Bridge and Road began construction on Whitehouse November 24, 2007. Whitehouse is 40 feet wide and 3,661 feet long. Daniel McCall is 30 feet wide and 1,409 feet long. The project included a 50 foot pedestrian bridge on Daniel McCall Drive for Angelina College students to cross from their apartments to the campus and 1,916 feet of sidewalk.
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Bridge closure rescheduled for Oct. 23
The planned closure tonight of the U.S. 59 mainlanes at the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge has been rescheduled for October 23. The location will be closed for the pouring of the southbound U-turn bridge.
The October 28 closure for the pouring of the northbound U-turn bridge has also been rescheduled. The U.S. 59 mainlanes will be closed on October 29 instead for the pouring of the northbound U-turn bridge.
-TxDOT press release
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U.S. 59 Project restarts after Hurricane Ike
The Texas Department of Transportation and its contractor, Zachry Construction, are back at work on the U.S. 59 South project following Hurricane Ike’s arrival. Although Ike caused little damage at the project site, the contractor is working with a limited crew because of the impact of the hurricane on employees personally.
Crews are back at work today after spending a couple of days cleaning up around the work site and resetting barricades and barrels knocked around by the hurricane. Today work resumed on building the northbound frontage road. However, night time operations planned for last Thursday to set the deck panels on the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Bridge are being rescheduled.
“Right now we don’t want the project to interfere with the evacuation traffic which continues to travel through the area,” said Kathi White, TxDOT spokesperson. “But the project is up and running again and that’s a positive thing. Our hearts and prayers go out to not only the Zachry employees but to those of all of our contractors, to the TxDOT family of employees in the Beaumont and Houston districts, which include that entire affected area, as well as the citizens impacted by Hurricane Ike.”
Note: Elsewhere, TxDOT is urging motorists to avoid travel along IH 45-Gulf Freeway to Galveston Island. IH 45-Gulf Freeway is closed south of FM 519 where the Texas Department of Public Safety has staged a checkpoint for credential review to continue southbound. A dedicated lane has been established for emergency responders and essential employees; including state and federal resources, utility providers, active contractors and commodity deliveries. The Galveston Island “Look and Leave” program has been suspended indefinitely and residents of the Island will not be allowed through the checkpoint. Fueling options and resources are very minimal due to traffic which is also causing delays in getting the needed resources to the area. Only residents of Bayou Vista and Tiki Island are being permitted through the checkpoint at this time and are reminded that electrical, water and fuel resources are scarce. TxDOT urges the traveling public to be patient, to observe all warning and detour signs and to watch for personnel and equipment in the work area as well as those working clean up and recovery efforts following the hurricane. Remember, traffic fines double when workers are present.
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More nighttime closures planned
TxDOT press release
Preparations continue for a nighttime operation on Thursday (Sept. 11) to set the bridge deck panels on the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Drive Bridge. The southbound main lanes of U.S. 59 will be shut down at 8 p.m. and traffic moved to the southbound ramp until the work is completed Saturday morning. Additional night time work to set the deck panels is planned for the area on Wednesday, September 17.
Tulane Drive Bridge:
Demolition scheduled for early October
Bridge removal work conducted at night
Some lanes closures required
Time frame - closed 18 to 24 months as new facility built
Frontage Roads:
Pavement poured on northbound and southbound outside lanes
Work continues on northbound and southbound inside lanes
- Expected completion date - late December
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Night Work Begins
The Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Bridge and the U.S. Highway 59 South main lanes under the bridge will close from 8 p.m. Friday until Saturday morning while crews begin night work on hanging the beams on the bridge. Next week crews will set the bridge deck panels causing the U.S 59 northbound lanes to close Wednesday night and the southbound lanes to close Thursday night. The Tulane Drive Bridge demolition has been moved to October due to bad weather conditions. This will also be done at night and require some road closures. Once closed the bridge will not re-open for 18 to 24 months while crews construct the new bridge.
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South First Street work
Construction crews begin work on South First Street Friday. The temporary lane closure had traffic backed up a little ways Friday morning.
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First Street almost Complete
There will be some delays for those traveling South First Street to Loop 287 beginning Wednesday while Highway Technology of Houston begins adding the finishing touches to the newly resurfaced highway, according to a TxDOT report. As long as the sun remains shining TxDOT expects the process to take a little over a week to complete. During this time there will be temporary lane closures. The first thing Highway Technology will do will be to lay out the stop bars at the intersections of U.S. Highway 59 South and Loop 287; South First Street and Lufkin Mall; South First Street and Jane-Way; and Timberland/South First Street and Loop 266. They will also layout the crosswalk at South First Street that runs from the mall to the Angelina Shopping Center. After this is complete, Highway Technology will strip the roadway from the South First Street intersection at Timberland and Loop 266 to Loop 287.
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Back to Work
Construction workers pour concrete Monday afternoon. The sunshine has crews back out working again after a slight delay last week due to rain.
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Sun shine puts crews back to work
Photo by Jeff Awtrey
Recent weather halted construction on U.S. Highway 59 South on Lufkin’s south side, according to a TxDOT press release. Work should have started back up again today with much of it happening at night over the next several weeks.
Zachry Construction Corporation of San Antonio will continue pouring the concrete pavement for the frontage roads this week as long as the sun continues shining.
Crews will work nights beginning Friday, September 5 to hang beams on the Whitehouse/Daniel McCall Bridge. During this time the bridge will be closed as well as the northbound and southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 59 South.
The next week night time work will begin on setting the bridge deck panels and the bridge and main lanes will be closed. The U.S. Highway 59 South northbound lanes will be closed Wednesday night, September 10 and the southbound lanes will be closed Thursday night, September 11.
Tentative plans for the demolition of the Tulane Drive Bridge are set for mid-September. Removal of the bridge will happen at night and will require the bridge be closed for 18 to 24 months while the new bridge is being constructed.
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