BRENHAM AREA TxDOT ENGINEER PROVIDES UPDATES ON CLOVERLEAF, 290-1155 INTERSECTION

  

TxDOT’s new Brenham Area Engineer gave updates Tuesday on two high-profile projects in Washington County.

James Kreamer spoke during the Washington County Republican Club’s monthly meeting about the cloverleaf interchange at Highway 290 and Highway 36 in Brenham, as well as the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 1155 in Chappell Hill.

Kreamer first discussed the interchange project, which has a budget of $98 million and spans 4.6 miles from FM 389 to FM 2679.  The goal of the project is to add travel lanes, modernize the interchange design and provide ramp connections to local roads, while minimizing impact to surrounding properties.

The project calls for a four-lane divided cross section with a concrete center median barrier, one-way frontage roads, and shared use for bicyclists and pedestrians.  The present cloverleaf will be removed, and Highway 290 will fly over Highway 36 and Westwood Lane.

Another public hearing is planned for this fall or winter.  TxDOT’s current schedule has environmental clearance being obtained by the end of the year.  Preparation of construction plans, utility relocations and the beginning of right-of-way acquisition would take place through 2025, with construction starting in 2026.

Kreamer then talked about the plans to overhaul the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 1155.  The intersection improvements are part of a larger project to widen Highway 290 to six lanes along a 12-mile stretch in Washington and Waller counties, from FM 1371 to Highway 6.  TxDOT plans to use an overpass design at the intersection.

As long-term improvements are designed, TxDOT is implementing short-term solutions like new signage and modified signal timing.  It is also looking to utilize a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R-CUT) intersection, which would reduce conflict points by redirecting side street left-turning movements to offset U-turn locations.

The project is currently not funded by TxDOT and is not expected to begin construction before 2030.  Another public meeting to evaluate the intersection is anticipated before year’s end.