By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News
The new connector road between RM 620 and RM 2222 is only weeks away from opening to northbound traffic, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
“We could open to northbound-only movements in the next couple of weeks, with the full opening a bit later,” said Brad Wheelis, TxDOT spokesperson. “It’s very fluid right now but the contractor is making significant progress.”
He added that because they are working to get it opened fast, “there likely won’t be but a couple of days’ notice before we get it opened.”
The $15.8 million bypass connector road broke ground in December 2019.
After the northbound lanes open first, there is more work to do with the signals and the tie-in at RM 2222, Wheelis said.
New traffic signals were installed in May at both ends of the bypass where it connects to RM 620 and RM 2222. They have yet to be operational while motorists are getting used to them.
“They should be finishing up paving (the bypass) this week, weather permitting,” Wheelis said. Once paving is complete, the curb and sidewalk will be installed along the bypass.
Daily lane closures will continue for the foreseeable future on RM 620 so crews can install guardrails.
When fully complete at some point this summer, the new bypass road will be two-way travel.
The bypass road at this point does not have a more official name other than the bypass road.
The other roadwork project underway in Four Points is the widening of RM 2222.
Heavy rains several weeks ago interrupted some of the road construction.
“The traffic switch (moving traffic to the south side of RM 2222) that was scheduled for June has been pushed to the first week of July, as a result,” Wheelis said.
Once traffic is switched on RM 2222, crews will begin roadway construction on the north side of RM 2222.
The $23.6 million RM 2222 widening project is adding a third lane on RM 2222 between Bonaventure Drive and McNeil Drive. The project broke ground in January 2019.
The combined $39.4 million roadwork projects in Four Points are to be completed this year and will increase road capacity which will improve traffic flow.