Cleveland Relief Route

There probably isn't a person in northwestern Liberty County who has not heard about the Cleveland loop.

The loop is a project to build a new highway along the southern portion of the city. So far, TxDOT has completed the first phase of the project beginning from SH 105 just south of the school and ending at FM 1010. The next step is to build the rest of the highway stetching from FM 1010 to SH 105 just west of Pin Oak Road.

The Cleveland loop is one of those projects with more rumors and mystery floating around than Bigfoot. It would take too long and more bandwidth than what is available on the internet to go into all the rumors and speculations about the highway. So, to help those of you who live in the area or are just interested in the project, we've decided to post some of the latest facts concerning what's next for the Cleveland loop.

The next phase of construction is scheduled to begin this spring. In fact, the letting date is scheduled for May. That's when it goes to contract. It usually takes about six weeks after the letting to begin turning dirt. Despite rumors, the project will be one continuous project and will not be broken into different phases. That means work will take place along the entire stretch from FM 1010 to SH 105.

The project will be funded with what we call Proposition 14 bonds. That simply means the state will pay for it by purchasing bonds. Recently, TxDOT received the needed environmental clearance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The department also received the nod from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. These are crucial and necessary before any project of such magnitude can begin.

When completed, it will be a big plus to the City of Cleveland. Heavy congestion has put a huge strain on the downtown area, especially from large trucks. When the loop is completed, trucks can bypass the downtown area. This means Cleveland can benefit from a less congested highway through the downtown area.

Look for more updates on the site as we keep you updated. If you have any questions, contact us at 409.898.5745 or by email at mshephe@dot.state.tx.us

Drive Safely,
Marc S.

SH 82 Bridge Update

If you haven't been to south Jefferson County, you've probably missed out on the progress of the new SH 82 bridge.

Workers are in the final stages of the job to build a new bridge to replace the old swing bridge between Louisiana.

Our latest video takes you on top of the bridge as crews pour the bridge decking. It gives you a perspective few people get to see.

Happy Driving,
Marc S.

Blogs, Twitter, and things that bounce around the Internet

We had hoped to have a nice little video on a bridge construction project in South Jefferson County. However, you guessed it, our system crashed and took the video with it. We're working on getting it out hopefully the end of this week.

In the meantime, check out this video concerning social media and the impact it's having on communication throughout the world.

In light of our TxDOT-Beaumont blog and the department's Twitter alerts, this video shows just why we are doing all of this.

Marc S.

District holds free safety seat checkup

Did you know 9 out of every 10 child safety seats are improperly installed?

The Beaumont District's Traffic Operations section along with DPS held a free safety seat inspection at the district office in Beaumont showing how to propery install seats. Certified inspectors also inspected seats to make sure they were safe and to see if there were any recalls.

If you missed this event, don't fret. There are more to come. In fact, contact the district office and we can schedule a time for you to drop by and let a certified inspector give your kid's safety seat a good going over.

Call Georgette Pillitere at 898-5719 to set up an appointment.

Buckle Up,
Marc S.

FM 365 widening project

Widening FM 365 in the Port Arthur area is a big job. With construction beginning in just a few months, TxDOT has a lot of work to do including purchasing right-of-way, adjusting utilities, and making sure everything is ready to go to contract.

Our latest video gives you what's planned for FM 365 and the work that needs to be done before any dirt can turn.

Also, a big thanks to the City of Port Arthur and Mayor Deloris Prince, and Jefferson County for working to make this project a reality. Working together with the same goals makes projects happen much sooner with greater success.

Marc S.

TxDOT to widen section of FM 365

After years of effort by both TxDOT and the City of Port Arthur, a portion of FM 365 will soon be widened.

The project involves widening the highway between US 69 and West Port Arthur Road to five lanes.

Work is scheduled to begin in mid-2010.

We will update with more info tomorrow.

Marc S.

Old Pic

If you recognize the place, you have been around for a very long time. This one is a tough one. However, here's a hint.

The city, located within the Beaumont District, is in a county with a population of approximately 13,752.

Email me at: mshephe@dot.state.tx.us if you know the answer.

Happy Driving.
Marc S.

Bridge Improvements

Some have wondered when eastbound traffic will be put on the new portion of the Trinity River bridge on I-10 in Chambers County.

Workers recently completed building one of two bridges to replace an older steel bridge. Westbound traffic is already on the new structure and crews are working to temporarily put eastbound traffic on the bridge before removing the old bridge.

And if you haven't been across the new bridge, make sure to check out the video. It will give you an idea of what we are doing and what's left to do.

Drive Safe,
Marc S