CITIZENS LEARN, ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT TxDOT’S PLANS FOR 290-1155 INTERSECTION

  

Residents met in Chappell Hill on Tuesday to learn more about TxDOT’s plans to overhaul the intersection of Highway 290 and FM 1155.

At least 150 people came to the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church parish hall for a public meeting showcasing various TxDOT exhibits and materials as the agency engineers solutions to address the often-dangerous intersection. 

A range of proposed improvements were shown at the meeting, from short-term upgrades that have already been or are close to being installed, to near-term ones that will take place within a year or two, to the long-term and large-scale overpass project that will not begin for at least seven years.

Juan Quiroz, TxDOT – Bryan District Planning Engineer, said the meeting served as an opportunity for citizens to see what has been developed thus far and make comments on any needed adjustments.

The overpass is planned to bridge over FM 1155, with entrance and exit ramps and frontage roads for local access.  The enhancements would incorporate pedestrian accommodations in order to allow them to cross under Highway 290 safely.  Right of way acquisition will be required. The changes are planned as 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. 

One short-term improvement that has been implemented is an all-red sensor that measures vehicles with radar and video.  If the sensor detects a vehicle will run a red light at the intersection, it extends the red light on FM 1155 to hold traffic there longer.  Another improvement that will soon be installed is a signal advance warning which actively flashes once a vehicle nears the place where it needs to start slowing down as it approaches the intersection.

A near-term solution being developed is a Restricted Crossing U-Turn (R-CUT) intersection, which redirects traffic to take right turns or U-turns at offset locations east and west of the 290-1155 intersection, instead of crossing through the intersection itself.  This is meant to cut down on the riskier crashes, like T-bone collisions, that could occur, and is anticipated to begin construction in early 2024.  Of note, the R-CUT intersections would not stay in place once construction of the overpass begins, but since state funding has not yet been committed for the overpass improvements, the R-CUT would remain for several years.

During a question and answer session at the end of the meeting, many people came forward to present concerns about the R-CUT intersections.  Doug Marino, Bryan District Director of Transportation, Planning and Development, said TxDOT plans to hold more conversations about some of the issues mentioned, which included questions on how they would function with the large festivals held in Chappell Hill, negative impacts to how quickly first responders can get to the scene of an emergency, and added difficulty for tractors and farm equipment. 

Chappell Hill Chamber of Commerce President Joel Romo suggested holding a stakeholder meeting for TxDOT to visit directly with the Chamber, emergency responders and other officials to work through these potential problems.  Marino encouraged the feedback and reminded residents to submit any comments they have by February 1^st so that they can be included in the official meeting documents. 

Materials, slides and a video from Tuesday’s presentation can be seen at www.txdot.gov.  Another public hearing is planned next year to review the final schematic design.