Dateline: December 26, 2002

TIP meeting discusses TxDOT plans

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Officials with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) last week outlined future plans for work in Donley County for the 2004-2006 fiscal years.

Speaking during a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) meeting at the Bura Handley Community Building in Wellington last Thursday, area engineer Tracy Cain said $35.2 million will be spent per year in the TxDOT Childress District, which includes Donley County.

During fiscal year 2004, TxDOT plans to work on the concrete intersection at US 287 and Koogle Street in Clarendon. The work will involve strengthening the joints in the concrete and will cost $314,000.

In FY 2005, the northbound lanes of US 287 between Clarendon and Hedley will be overlaid at an estimated cost of $1.65 million. The same year will see the replacement of the bridge over Lelia Creek on CR 20 as part of the state’s off-system program at a cost of $285,600.

The next project in Donley County comes in FY 2006 when the Salt Fork bridge below the Greenbelt Reservoir will be removed. The $800,000 job will take the roadway back down to grade and will add a small drainage structure for the water that is allowed to flow from the reservoir.

District-wide the state will spend $5 million in FY 2004 to seal coat 300 miles of state highways. Cain said the goal is for every roadway to get a new surface every eight years.