HIGHWAY 290 MOBILITY STUDY IN GIDDINGS ON PAUSE
A TxDOT project meant to address traffic issues along Highway 290 in Giddings has been put on hold.
Mobility Study in Giddings.
(courtesy TxDOT)
TxDOT’s Highway 290 mobility study is on pause through the fiscal year, which began on September 1st and ends August 31, 2025. The study was in the process of evaluating options to potentially widen or re-route the highway, based on community input.
Jeff Barker, Public Information Officer for TxDOT’s Austin District, told the Giddings Times & News that the timeline for the mobility study is being extended so that TxDOT can consider new strategic opportunities in areas where there is more potential for immediate impact. TxDOT Project Manager Minhdang Bennett said this will allow the district to focus on projects that have been funded for construction in the next four years.
Funding has not been dedicated for the Giddings project, as the mobility study will be used to guide any construction that takes place.
TxDOT held a workshop in April to receive feedback from the public on possibilities for improving mobility, safety and emergency response times while also rectifying conflicts with the railroad in Giddings. Barker said additional outreach events will be held in the future.
All the millions of dollars being spent on the 290/cloverleaf project will not ease traffic congestion at all if the issue in Giddings is not resolved at the same time. Getting through Giddings is a nightmare on weekends and holidays , and if there is a train coming through it’s even worse. TXDOT should just make a loop around or an overpass over the town.
Overpass over the town. That sounds reasonable.