Making the Change Page 4 ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Texas Department of Transportation TEXARKANA, TX Atlanta District PERMIT NO. 199 701 East Main Street Atlanta, Texas 75551 ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY ONE WAY October 2006 Volume 1, Issue 1 Construction work begins this month POSTAL CUSTOMER to modernize I-30 Frontage Roads It’s coming! The most ex- tensive and expensive highway reconstruction project ever in Texarkana begins this fall. The Texas Transportation Commission gave its final INSIDE THIS ISSUE: approval on July 27 to a $153.5 million project aimed at Project Maps 2-3 addressing Texarkana’s grow- ing pains and traffic conges- Property Accessibility 2 tion along Interstate 30. This will involve converting all Who to call 3 frontage roads along the I-30 corridor to one-way, filling in Website News 4 gaps in the frontage roads between Kings Highway (FM 989) in Nash and Jefferson Traffic congestion along the Interstate 30 corridor in Texarkana Get the Latest News on Avenue on the Arkansas side, should be reduced once the frontage roads are converted to one-way relocating entrance and exit and construction to modernize the facilities is completed. ramps, and adding and recon- Interstate 30 Construction Work structing overpasses along the mercial development has blos- moved under the crossroads route. somed near Richmond and next to the interstate traffic Online at: “There’s no doubt traffic Summerhill Roads. The pri- lanes. Traffic will not need problems will increase while mary cause of the congestion is to exit the frontage roads too many vehicles trying to and go through a signalized the work is being conducted, but once it is completed it pass through too many signal- intersection unless they want should greatly improve mobil- ized intersections. Currently, to get onto a particular ity all along I-30,” said Kenny there are two signalized inter- crossroad. Icenhower, area engineer for sections on each side of the • Turn-around bridges will be TxDOT in Texarkana. “Once interstate—one each for the constructed on each side of www.txdot.gov the project is finished, motor- frontage roads and one each the crossroad overpasses to ists will be able to travel from for the exit and entrance allow traffic to travel to the Kings Highway all the way to ramps. opposite frontage road with- State Line Avenue and back The new one-way frontage out having to pass through roads will help to remedy this without ever having to pass the crossroad intersection. through a signalized intersec- problem in several ways. The overpasses at Richmond Making the Change is published tion. There will be no need • One-way direction will take and Summerhill Roads will be Search Keyword: periodically by the Atlanta District one direction off each signal- completely reconstructed to of the Texas Department of for vehicles to stop at a signal- ized intersection. allow room for the new front- Transportation to inform the ized intersection unless they public about progress of construc- want to turn on a particular • Two full intersections will be age roads to be built under- IH30Texarkana tion work on the Interstate 30 crossroad.” removed as the exit and en- neath them. This will be done Frontage Roads project in Texar- The I-30 corridor has long trance ramps are merged into after the turn-around bridges kana. had problems with traffic con- the frontage roads. are built on each side so traffic gestion, especially where com- • Frontage roads will be (Continued on page 3) Page 2 Making the Change Making the Change Page 3 New frontage roads will give Texarkana’s I-30 Corridor a Kings Highway big-city feel while improving safety and efficiency Richmond Road Richmond Ranch University Avenue Central Mall beginning the project will be Property owners need not filling in the gaps in the frontage road system between Kings Construction work Highway and State Line Ave- worry about access to homes, businesses (Continued from page 1) nue,” Icenhower said. “Once “Property and business will keep access to all properties while another is closed due to this is completed, we will con- owners tend to be a little and will not close any driveway construction. Single driveways will still be able to use the road- vert the frontage roads to one- Lowes/Wal-Mart nervous about getting into and without first contacting the will remain open at all times everyone informed,” Icen- ways. way while the rest of the work is out of their property when property owner. The except when construction work hower said. “We want traffic Additional overpasses will be being conducted. highway construction work department is bound by law to is being conducted directly in and construction to move along constructed at University Ave- “There is no doubt that traf- begins,” said Kenny Icenhower, always maintain access to front of them. as smoothly as possible.” nue between US 59 and Kings fic congestion will get even Highway and at Pavilion Park- worse during the construction area engineer for TxDOT in properties during highway “We intend to have open Anyone having question Texarkana Area Office at way which will connect traffic process, but we just ask that the Texarkana. “Most driveways construction.” lines of communication about their driveways or access (903) 838-8574 between 8 a.m. between the Richmond Ranch public please have patience with along the construction route Properties with two or more between property owners and to their property can contact the and 5 p.m. development and the Lowes/ us because the finished product will be reconstructed, but we driveways will have one open contractor to help keep Wal-Mart shopping areas. is going to be so much better,” The interchange of US 59 he said. with I-30 will also be completely Austin Bridge & Road, LP of New Dallas, was awarded the con- Converting the Who you gonna call? Boston reconstructed to allow direct Interstate 30 frontage Road access to and from I-30 through tract for the construction. The roads to one way will Anyone who has a question comments about the Making interlacing overpasses. Turn- Arkansas Department of High- reduce the number of or a problem concerning the the Change newsletter can con- arounds will be constructed at ways and Transportation has signal lights on each construction work on the Inter- tact Marcus Sandifer, Public In- the intersection of US 59 at worked with TxDOT to pay for side of the interstate and state 30 frontage roads can call formation Officer for the New Boston Road (US 82) un- its share of the project that also remove one the Texarkana Area Office at TxDOT Atlanta District at 903- derneath the loop. crosses the state line. direction from the signal 903-838-8574 between 8 a.m. 799-1306. Work on the project begins in lights, greatly improving In addition to the construc- and 5 p.m. Questions and com- All inquiries will be answered tion work, the project also in- October of this year and take traffic movement. ments can also be sent via email Much of the cross-traffic as soon as possible by Texas cludes landscaping along the about four years to complete, will also be moved out to [email protected]. Department of Transportation frontage roads throughout the Icenhower said. of the intersections. Anyone with questions or personnel. project. “The first order of business in St. Michael’s Hospital Cowhorn Creek Jefferson Avenue Summerhill Road State Line Blvd. .