TxDOT HOLDS VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING ON 290/36 INTERCHANGE

  

The Texas Department of Transportation presented a video yesterday with 5 proposed concepts for the redesign of the State Highway 36 – US 290 interchange.   The redesign hopes to alive congestion on the current cloverleaf design, especially during high traffic periods.  TxDOT originally presented three designs in March of 2019, and has now revised one of those concepts and proposed 2 others.

Concept A is a diverging diamond design that would require the least amount of right of way, but would require signal lights on Highway 290.
Concept B (revised) would place new lanes for Highway 290 just south of the current interchange. This concept achieved the highest score on the TxDOT matrix.
Concept C is the split Northern Connection would separate the east and westbound lanes of Highway 290 and place them above and below the current buildings around Westwood Lane.
Concept D or Northern Connection would move both lanes of Highway 290 north of the buildings on Westwood Lane.
Concept E or Southern Connection would move both lanes of Highway 290 to the south.  This concept would likely require the greatest amount of right of way acquisition.

The TxDOT video will be available until December 4th, and the public has until then to comment on the 5 concepts.  Due to COVID, the public is encouraged to comment online either by using the comment form on the TxDOT website or by emailing steve.higgins@txdot.gov.

TxDOT anticipates that public hearings will take place on the project in 2021 through 2023 with right of way acquisition taking place in 2024 and 2025.  Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

What’s your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0

5 Comments

  1. When visually traveling West from downtown Brenham on Plan B, a bottleneck will result when merging onto 290W. Basically, only one lane traveling 290 West won’t have merging Westwood and downtown traffic trying to access the highway after the curve. Accident potential and slowdowns seem high. Also, traveling the opposite direction from 290 West to exit for Westwood businesses or downtown Brenham could have exiting highway traffic back up/stop onto Hwy 290 and create another bottleneck on busy days. There doesn’t appear room to add additional lanes without additional business acquisition if needed in the future with Plan B. Plan D seems the only plan that could accommodate any future needed lanes with the least amount of land/business right of way acquisition.

  2. Curious, why even bother with the consideration of the other plans? Plan B clearly has the advantage of keeping 290 traffic moving while speedily integrating local traffic. Least impact to existing business and countryside. But I’m still curious why you would want something other than plan B?

  3. Several comments on an earlier story about this promoted the use of the “diverging diamond” layout; with their civil engineering expertise, I would hope that they can answer this question. What will traffic look like headed west on Friday afternoons between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m.? Frequently, I see the right lane at a stop and go pace from the Ford dealership northward until the cloverleaf. With only one stop light in play at Westwood now, what will happen with more lights installed in this version? While I understand it is cost effective, many things for the public good seem to be cost prohibitive, yet they are done anyhow. Does the scoring matrix that TxDoT used and that gave the highest ratings to the second option have a part in the choice, or is this to be a local decision?
    As with any TxDoT condemnation suit, I’m sure the landowners will be amply rewarded for the land and/or right of way; since it’s a state-funded project, Brenham residents won’t be on the hook for the cost either.

    1. As I understand it the City Council has already voiced their opinion against the “diverging diamond” Concept. I do know that plan would include several Red Lights to work together to keep traffic at a better flow, But I favor Plan B as it looks to be the best in my opinion, But as far as being “Ample Rewarded” No years ago the state took 40 feet of property from my parents home to widen a Highway they were paid $40. a tree and $250. for the land right of way at a total of $400. ( Four Hundred Dollars)

  4. While I like that TXDOT is finally considering diverging diamond interchanges, in this scenario, it probably makes the least amount of sense.

Back to top button