State to Acquire 152+ Acres as Part of Highway 77 Expansion

Two Residences May Be Displaced; Hearing Set for Nov. 18

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to widen US 77 from La Grange to just north of the Lee-Fayette County Line.

TxDOT announced the plans in public notice that appeared in last Friday’s Fayette County Record. A virtual public hearing will take place Tuesday, Nov. 16, starting at 5 p.m. (details below). An in-person public hearing will take place on Thursday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the VFW Hall in La Grange, located in the Fairgrounds at 500 Veterans Memorial Drive.

Plans call for a divided fourlane highway through most of that stretch. A portion at the north end of La Grange and a portion in Warda would be five lanes including a center turning lane. The divided section would include two 12-foot travel lanes, 10-foot outside shoulders, 4-foot inside shoulders. The center median would vary between 56 and 68 feet wide. Twelve-foot left turn lanes would also be constructed at multiple intersections along the highway.

The five-lane section would include a 14-foot center left turn lane instead of a median. In addition, the outside shoulders would be reduced to eight feet wide.

TxDOT says it will need to acquire 152.74 acres of additional right-of-way to complete the project. The acquisitions would potentially displace two residences and four other non residential structures. The agency said it will offer relocation assistance to displaced persons and businesses. Those affected can find out more about the relocation assistance program by calling Christy Lambert at the TxDOT Yoakum District Office at (361) 293-4335. TxDOT said the project will not involve any construction in wetlands.

The project would involve work in a floodplain.

To log onto the virtual public hearing, go to the following web address at the date and time indicated above: www.txdot.gov, and search “US 77 from SH 71” in the search box. If you do not have internet access you may call (361) 293-4374 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to ask questions and access project materials at any time during the project development process.

Written comments from the public regarding the proposed project are requested and may be submitted by mail to the TxDOT Yoakum District Office, Attention: John Paul Clark, 403 Huck St, Yoakum, TX 77995. Written comments may also be submitted by email to JohnPaul. Clark@txdot.gov. Comments must be postmarked on or before Friday, Dec. 3.

Additionally, members of the public may call (979) 608-1005 and verbally provide testimony from 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, through 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3.