Court Hears Bypass Opposition

The Bluff bypass debate headed to Commissioners Court last week.

Three citizens spoke during the public comment period at last Thursday’s meeting about the plans for a new Highway 77 route to avoid the steep, curvy segment of the highway just south of La Grange. The Bluff has been the scene of many wrecks, especially ones involving 18-wheelers.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) proposed a recommended route back in April that would require more than five miles of new four-lane highway to be built through the countryside north of Hostyn and west of the current US 77 alignment. According to TxDOT’s feasibility study, the State would have to acquire 154 acres of right-ofway from private property owners, either through voluntary sale or eminent domain.

Jeff Vinklarek, director of transportation and planning for TxDOT’s Yoakum District, told the La Grange City Council on June 10, that the State wants the blessing of the City Council and Fayette County Commissioners Court before proceeding with the project, which is estimated to cost $303 million.

“I have property on FM 609, about 100 acres, that this bypass would cut right through,” Mike Pechal said at the meeting. “I already have a racetrack with 609 in front of my house. And then I’d have another in my backyard. My property would be completely worthless – pennies on the dollar if I could even sell it.”

The route that TxDOT 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.

Pechal asked the Commissioners to envision the scene at the top of the hill behind Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn.

“It’s a beautiful view of Fayette County,” Pechal said. “Not many like it. Now visualize a four-lane highway right through the middle of it. You’re going to wipe out 300 or 400 trees and fill it full of concrete.

“Destroying people’s property – that’s forever,” Pechal added. “You can’t take that back.”

County Judge Dan Mueller told Pechal that TxDOT will have the final say in whether or not to build the bypass.

“This is not a Commissioners Court decision,” Mueller said. “The highway department will make the ultimate decision.”

Jeff Parker, another citizen, spoke next.

“It’s a shame that we’re talking about ruining people’s lives and property, and spending hundreds of millions of dollars in a nation, state and locale that frankly, is broke,” Parker said. “What we could do is keep what we’ve got and exercise more personal responsibility, and not have accidents on the Bluff. You’ll never get people to do the right thing. It takes a little enforcement.”

Parker said law enforcement could increase traffic stops in the vicinity of the Bluff as a way of slowing down traffic. He advocated for a stop at the intersection of US 77 and FM 155 at the top of the Bluff as a way of slowing down 18-wheeler traffic heading down the Bluff.

“If you put a DPS (trooper) at the base of the Bluff, how long could you pay his salary for $100 million?” Parker asked. “Could you do some traffic devices that might better control traffic?”

Patrick McClaugherty, who owns property off FM 609, said he and other affected property owners met with Tx-DOT officials at the Yoakum district office.

“They told us the first thing we had to do is get a negative response on the idea from Commissioners Court and the City Council,” McClaugherty said. “We know some of the City Council is against the idea of the bypass.”

McClaugherty asked the Commissioners to express their opposition to the bypass.

At a previous Commissioners Court meeting, two citizens with property on Creamer Creek Rd. expressed support for an eastern route that TxDOT had considered during its feasibility study. That route would diverge from US 77 to the east before crossing 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. The eastern route would have linked with SH 71 Bypass on the east side of La Grange.

“We attended the City Council meeting last Monday night and heard a gentleman address the Council opposing the eastern route proposal,” McClaugherty said. “He expressed the same reasons that I also share. His family has owned their land since the Civil War. There are stories like these on both sides. I cannot say, ‘Choose the other so they will suffer.’ We propose to keep the existing route as it is today with a few changes.”

McClaugherty suggested straightening the turn at FM 609 and FM 2436 to make it a more viable option for 18-wheeler traffic. He also suggested improving signage, slowing the speed limit and installing a stop at US 77 and FM 155 at the top of the Bluff.

Commissioners Court has not yet considered whether or not to support TxDOT’s bypass recommendation.