TxDot Open to Many Options Regarding Bluff Road/Highway 77 Future

Open House Set for This Thursday, June 29, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall in La Grange for Public Input

Texas Department of Transportation released some additional information about the department’s feasibility study on US Hwy. 77.

Last week, County Judge Dan Mueller reported that TxDOT was considering a potential re-route of US 77 to avoid the curvy Bluff south of La Grange, the scene of many 18-wheeler accidents. The Record asked TxDOT for details about the re-route options, and whether it would require the state to acquire land.

“Because we are so early in this process, we don’t have answers to your questions regarding a reroute and land acquisition,” said TxDOT public information officer Lucea’n Kuykendall-Herring. “We want to look at everything from doing nothing to potential improvements or realignment of the existing road to potentially rerouting the roadway. We are open to many options and we are asking the community to give us their input and ideas.”

TxDOT will host an open house this Thursday, June 29 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall in La Grange (500 Veterans Memorial Dr.).

“At the Open House we will present information we have gathered on safety conditions and share some of the technical and environmental factors we will consider as we look at potential options,” Herring said. “We are asking the community to share their traffic-related concerns as well and to help with ideas on how to address them. We will have maps that community members can draw on and add comments. Our project team will be there to answer questions and listen to community input. All of our materials and the mapping exercise will be available online as well through our Virtual Open House which will be available starting at 4:30 on Thursday, June 29 and open through July 14.”

To view the documents, go to www.txdot.gov and search for “US 77 La Grange.” Click the link to the page for the Feasibility Study. TxDOT will post documents to the page on June 29. The public may review the documents and leave comments.

If TxDOT decides to take action on the study, construction would likely be years away.

“There will be a multiyear process which includes additional opportunities for the community to be involved and provide input,” Herring said. “Advancement from step to step is contingent upon the outcome of the previous step and the availability of funding.

“A schedule for construction for improvements to US 77 has not been identified.”