Bypass Fight Heads to the Courthouse

Fayette County Commissioners Court heard from several citizens opposed to the US 77 Bypass project at their meeting last Thursday, July 11.

Jacob Aswad, who owns property on Creamer Creek Rd., said the Texas Department of Transportation’s plan to build a bypass around the Bluff south of La Grange would Aswad said TxDOT’s plan was “poorly publicized.” Aswad said he did not know until recently about the two public meetings TxDOT held in La Grange last year.

“It is my understanding they are asking for Commissioners Court’s approval as well as (La Grange) City Council’s approval,” he said. “Hopefully we can get it on an agenda in the near future. I’ve studied the options in detail. The recommended route is not the most beneficial.”

TxDOT studied three route options. The route that TxDOT eventually recommended would diverge from the current US 77 alignment to the west just north of the FM 2436 (the Hostyn cutoff). From there, it would travel through what is now private property in Creamer Creek area before joining with FM 609 near the Fayette County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Arena. It would then diverge to the west again through private property before linking with SH 71 Business near Snappy’s Market on the west side of La Grange.

TxDOT would need to acquire land either through voluntary sale or eminent domain to build the new route.

“It’s one of the most expensive options,” Aswad said. “And to me, it provides the least amount of solutions. It does greatly affect me personally, and my land. But it’s really more about the greater view of the three options presented.”

The first option that Tx-DOT studied would have roughly followed the existing layout of FM 2436 and FM 609 through the Hostyn area. TxDOT’s recommended route was based on the second option they studied.

The third option was a route that diverged from US 77 to the east. It would have crossed FM 155 near the current intersection of Loehr Rd. From there, it would have ran through private property in the vicinity of Camp Lone Star before crossing the Colorado River with a new bridge. Option Three would have linked with SH 71 Bypass on the east side of La Grange.

“The eastern route would provide the best route, and if anyone studied it, they would see that,” Aswad said.

Aswad said the benefits of the eastern route include a new bridge over the Colorado River and decreased truck traffic on the Bluff.

He said trucks traveling on FM 155 would have little incentive to use the route that TxDOT recommended since they would have to go out of their way to turn south at the top of the Bluff. The eastern route would also provide another emergency evacuation route, he said.

“One of the big public comments we saw was that Camp Lone Star would be affected by Option Three,” Aswad said. “Everyone was very passionate about that. But indeed, it doesn’t really affect Camp Lone Star in my opinion.”

Clara Smith, another resident on Creamer Creek Rd., spoke against TxDOT’s recommended route as well. Smith also spoke at the La Grange City Council meeting last Monday against the proposal. Smith said the Commissioners Court and the City need to ask TxDOT to reconsider their recommended route. Like Aswad, Smith also said Option Three provides the best route.

Smith pointed to TxDOT’s cost estimates, which show the preferred route would be more expensive than the eastern route.

“Even if Option Three were more expensive, it would still be the best option,” Smith said.

Patrick McClaugherty, who owns property of FM 609, said TxDOT’s plan would remove the front of his property. McClaugherty, a retiree, said he cuts and bales hay on that portion of his property. TxDOT’s recommended route, he said, would not only deprive him of property but income as well.

“Our land provides an income that we need to support our social security,” he said. “Losing this income would destroy us financially.”

McClaugherty said he believes the best option is for TxDOT to do nothing.

“We are desperately pleading for the court to not approve this option when another option is available,” he said. “That option, and I feel strongly about it, is the simplest and straightforward – don’t build a bypass in either direction. Enforce the existing laws by slowing the speed of the Bluff road section. Post flashing signs warning of steep grades and the alternate route of FM 2436 and FM 609. Fine the drivers and shipping companies heavily for speeding and hitting objects or turning over.”

McClaugherty noted that, by law, trucks cannot be forced to take any alternate route.

“Why would anyone want to destroy another resident’s property for the sake of building a structure that is not mandatory to be used?” Mc-Claugherty asked.

Commissioners accepted the comments from the public. They took no action on the matter since it was not on the meeting agenda.