My highest transportation priority as a state legislator has been the improvement of IH-35 through Bell County. A smoother-flowing IH-35 is a key factor for both the continued economic growth of Central Texas and improved highway safety for those who travel it.


I am pleased to announce that several major IH-35 projects that have been in the planning stages for years are now poised to move foreword. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has developed a timeline for eight key improvements to IH-35 that will take place between now and 2011. Since several of these projects impact Salado, I thought it might be good to share the project schedule.


The next major improvement project for IH-35 in Central Texas will be the construction of a three-level interchange at Loop 363 in Temple. This project has a tentative date to receive bids of August of this year, with construction to begin in January of 2006. This enhancement is estimated to cost $68 million.


However, TxDOT informs me that there are some utility relocation issues that may still need to be resolved. If so, the target date for bids moves forward to next January and construction would start in June. TxDOT believes that they will know the answer on the utility issues in just a couple of weeks. Let us all hope for the earlier start date!


The next project on tap for this area will help out Salado, as two new rest area facilities will be constructed south of town soon. This $15 million project will seek bids in January of 2006, with a target date to start construction just two months later.


TxDOT is planning to solicit bids to expand IH-35 from the Williamson County line to south of Salado in the Spring of 2006. This $75 million improvement is set to start construction in the fall of the same year.


Those traveling north from Salado will see a similar expansion to six lanes up to U.S. 190 in Belton the next year. Bids will be sought in the summer of 2007 and work should start in the fall on this $85 million undertaking.


The expansion of IH-35 to six lanes within Salado is set for 2009. This project will run about $30 million.


IH-35 is also set to be expanded to six lanes from Loop 363 in Temple to north of Troy in the near future. This $67 million enhancement should be let out for bids in the spring of 2008, with dirt to start turning in the summer of the same year.


The next stretch of IH-35 expansion to six lanes is set for 2010 and will occur in Temple between South Loop 363 and North loop 363. This is a $130 million project.


Another stretch of IH-35 that will go to six lanes is found north of Troy up to Falls County. This $54 million project is set to move forward in 2011.


It has been a long and hard struggle for the folks in Central Texas to keep these much-needed highway improvements moving forward. We all know IH-35 through the heart of Texas has needed a major overhaul for a long time and, thankfully, it is finally going to get it.


It won't be pleasant while the actual construction is going on, of course. But, once it is finally done – we might all actually be able to get somewhere without having to time the drive with a calendar.