TXDOT Plans to Expand La Grange’s Busiest Intersection

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to expand the intersection at US 77 and Business 71 in La Grange. The tight intersection poses a major challenge to big trucks attempting to turn.

The state plans to purchase several feet of right-of-way at all four corners to make way for a new turning lane. The City will have to contribute 10 percent toward the estimated purchase price. At the La Grange City Council meeting Monday night, Dec. 14, City Manager Shawn Raborn presented TxDOT’s cost estimate to purchase the property at all four corners – $35,000.

“It needs to be done, because all of these (intersections) were made for Model T’s, not 18-wheelers,” said Councilman Ken Taylor.

However, some of the property owners at the intersection say they don’t think TxDOT’s estimate for the purchase is enough.

La Grange Chevron owner Calvin Mersiovsky said the documents TxDOT sent to him indicate they want to extend the street five feet inside the current property line.

“My canopy would be in the way the same way that the light pole is in the way now,” he said. “It would get hit. If you move the canopy, that means Pump 6 is useless. If you take that pump out, I don’t have diesel, because that’s where my diesel is at.

“These are all questions that I have,” he added. “It’s premature. Who knows if all that’s going to happen, but it’s certainly a concern I have.”

Mersiovsky said no one from TxDOT has come by to speak with him. He initially received a letter from TxDOT informing him of their plans. Last week he received a certified packet with forms asking for information about the property.

“I wish they would come talk to us instead of writing letters,” he said.

La Grange Subway owner Tom Hudson also received a letter from TxDOT informing him of their intention to buy a portion of his property. Hudson spoke at Monday night’s City Council meeting, saying he stands to lose one of his entrances and up to five parking spaces. His neighbor to the north, Pharm House Drugs, may lose up to nine parking spaces. Hudson said the $35,000 estimate from TxDOT does not fairly represent the value of the property in question.

“Once I give up my property I never get it back,” Hudson told the Council. “I lose the use of that forever. It doesn’t seem like there’s near enough money in there for five different pieces of property.”

City Manager Shawn Raborn said the the City would only be liable for 10 percent of TxDOT’s $35,000 estimate. He said the City would only pay $3,500, even If the property owners negotiate for higher prices and TxDOT ends up paying more than the $35,000 they estimated.

La Grange Mayor Janet Moerbe addressed a concern that the widened intersection may lead to even more truck traffic at the intersection.

“We don’t want to encourage the trucks coming through town,” she said. “But the thing is, we cannot reroute them by law.

State law says cities may establish a mandatory truck route only if the entire route is within the city limits. Many locals have long-wished for a mandatory truck route that would require 18-wheelers to bypass the Bluff on US 77 via FM 2436 and FM 609 through Hostyn. However, the City of La Grange does not have the legal authority to do so.

“We’ve done a lot of investigation on that aspect,” Moerbe said. “We have to consider that (18-wheelers) are coming anyway, so we need to make it as safe as possible.”

At Monday’s meeting, Hudson proposed a different truck route: one that would require northbound 18-wheelers on US 77 to continue north to the 71 Bypass. From there, they could turn east or west on the bypass instead of Travis Street.

Mersiovsky said Google Maps may hold the most blame for the 18-wheeler problems at the intersection. He said the popular navigation app for mobile devices tells northbound drivers on US 77 heading east or west to turn at Travis Street (Business 71) instead of turning at the 71 Bypass on the north side of town. He said someone from TxDOT or the City should try contacting Google to see if the company could change their navigation algorithms.

“It would probably be a heck of a lot cheaper than redoing this intersection,” he said.

Hudson mentioned Mersiovsky’s suggestion to the Council Monday night. Raborn said he would attempt to contact Google.

“(TxDOT) wants me to make a decision in 14 days,” Hudson said at the meeting. “I’m not going to do that.”