TxDOT rep announces new maintenance, repair projects

GONZALES — Jeffery Vinklarek, director of operations for the Yoakum District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) told Rotarians Tuesday that the amount of traffic on many of Gonzales County’s highways and rural roads is continuing to create hazards for the traveling public. Many maintenance and repair projects are underway to address the damage.

Vinklarek pointed out that it takes about 1,200 heavily loaded trucks to bring a single oil well online and 350-plus trucks a year to maintain it.

The ongoing activity in the Eagle Ford Shale also brings a lot of distracted, tired and young drivers to the area as well.

Traffic on FM 2067 in the Cheapside area increased by 1,200 percent from 2008 to 2013, Vinklarek said.

On Hwy 90A, the truck traffic went from 2,900 to 5,515 trucks a day, an increase of 90 percent. Hwy. 183, both north and south of Gonzales have increased by more than 50 percent.

Vinklarek said this dramatic increase means that everyone must drive defensively to avoid crashes. He added that in many cases, truck drivers have a difficult time seeing smaller vehicles traveling near them.

He described the intersection of Hwy. 87 and 80 in downtown Nixon as “one of the worst intersections in the country.”

TxDOT has bought the right-of-way to install turn lanes and help ease the congestion problems.  The intersection of Hwy. 80 and 67 is too narrow for trucks to turn, and they are in the process of correcting the issues there as well.

Vinklarek also pointed out that many of the bridges in rural parts of the county are only 19 feet wide — too narrow to allow large trucks to meet on the bridge.

When trucks are forced off the edge of the improved roadway to allow approaching traffic to pass them, it breaks down the integrity of the road, Vinklarek said. Over time this eats away the road and makes it even narrower. It also leaves behind a dropoff that is a new hazard to passenger vehicles.

Vinklarek said some potholes look deceptive. He showed a photograph of road damage on a highway outside Gonzales County that doesn’t look too bad to approaching motorists, but measurements taken there show the drop-off to be about five feet.

“That’s enough to force a small car to bottom out,” Vinklarek said.

The good news is that many of the projects funded by an emergency appropriation by the Texas Legislature are nearing completion.

Of the $250 million allocated to areas struggling to cope with the demand of increase oilfield activity, Gonzales County received $35 million.

Work on FM 1680 is 80-90 percent complete, according to Vinklarek.

Improvements to FM 2076 are 80 percent complete.

Crews have just started work on FM 77 near Nixon.

The deadline for these projects have a September completion deadline.

Gonzales County Maintenance Supervisor Joseph Kridler added that while these projects may not provide a miracle cure for the road woes in the area, the contractors performing the work have given a one-year warranty, so they will be responsible for repairs for the next year.

This takes a heavy burden off the local TxDOT crew, which includes 18 workers.

“It takes a month to do a mile of road,” Kridler said. “There are 18 employees at the Gonzales office and it takes 12 to do resurfacing.”

Kridler also mentioned that Gonzales has had help from TxDOT crews in the surrounding area to attempt to address the many issues.

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Current TxDOT Projects

• FM 532 —Resurface roadway from U.S. 90A to the Lavaca County Line (13.775 miles); SMC Contractors 40% complete.

• SH97 — Resurface roadway from 0.16 mile south of Sandy Fork Creek to U.S. 90 (5.387 miles). 45 project days. 7.68 percent complete.

• SH 97 — Repair roadway from CR 112 to US 183. 300 project days. Notice to proceed issued Feb. 18.

• U.S. 87 — Repair roadway from the Wilson County line to FM 77. 150 project days. Notice to proceed issues Feb. 26.

• SH 80 — Install/upgrade drainage structures from FM 1682 to CR 167 (9.030 miles) 30 project days, 99.45% complete.

• SH 80 — Resurface roadway from 0.06 miles south of U.S. 87 to the Wilson County line. 105 project days. Notice to proceed issued Feb. 18.

• IH-10 — Resurface roadway from the Caldwell County line to Sandy Fork Creek. In planning/bidding process. Scheduled for funding March 2017.

• IH-10 — Resurface roadway from Sandy Fork Creek to U.S. 90. In planning/bidding process. Scheduled for funding March 2017.

• FM 108 — Widen bridge approaches at Sandies Creek. In planning/bidding process. Scheduled for funding December 2017.

• FM 108 — Replace bridge at Sandies Creek. In planning/bidding process. Scheduled for funding November 2017.

• FM 108 — Replace bridge at Elm Creek Branch. 220 project days. 77% complete

• FM 443 — Replace bridge at Kokernot Branch. In planning/bidding process. Scheduled for funding August 2018.

• FM 443 — Replace bridge at Rocky Creek. In planning/bidding process. Scheduled for funding January 2017.

• CR 232 — Replace bridge at San Marcos River. In planning/bidding process. Scheduled for funding July 2018.

• CR 363 — Replace bridge at Gelhorn Creek. 60 project days. 90% complete.

• CR360A — Replace bridge at Rocky Creek. Notice to proceed issues Feb. 18. 45 project days.

• CR 296 —  Replace bridge at Fulchur Creek. Notice to proceed given Oct. 17. 60 project days. 24% complete.