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Ramp changes OK'd on Loop 322
More Big Country The relocation of access ramps on Loop 322 near Prime Time Family Entertainment Center and the Cisco Junior College campus in Abilene moved a step closer to reality Tuesday.
The Abilene Metropolitan Planning Organization transportation policy board voted without dissent to revise its Transportation Improvement Program to include the project. This clears the way for Texas Department of Transportation engineers to begin design work.
After a design plan has been produced, it will be presented at a public meeting. If approved, construction can then be scheduled.
Before recommending approval of the project, James Condry, traffic and transportation administrator for the city of Abilene and chairman of the policy board's technical committee, mentioned several of the committee's concerns. Among them was going from two entrance ramps to one; more traffic passing through the Industrial Boulevard intersections at the Loop 322 frontage roads and the timing of plans to signalize those intersections (that project has not yet been funded); the proposal to make both frontage roads one way; and rising construction costs.
Abilene Mayor Norm Archibald said he believes the one-way frontage roads will one day be viewed as a plus. He then made the motion to approve the revision to include the ramp project.
The committee also heard an update on statewide transportation issues. An amendment to the state constitution, passed by voters in November 2007, allows the issuance of up to $5 billion in bonds for highway improvement projects.
TxDOT engineer Blair Haynie reported that the Abilene district could receive as much as $20.6 million in extra funding. The final amount depends on actions taken during the legislative session beginning in January.
Abilene MPO transportation planning director Robert Allen said that amount could be enough to fund four projects as prioritized by the transportation policy board:
n Creating one-way frontage roads on Interstate 20 between Loop 322 and the railroad.
n Addressing access management issues on State Highway 351 around the shopping complex that includes the Wal-Mart store.
n Improving Buffalo Gap Road between Winters Freeway and Rebecca Lane. This could include widening, adding turn lanes, etc.
n Creating one-way frontage roads on U.S. Highway 83 South between Iberis Road and Canyon Rock Road.
State Rep. Susan King, R-Abilene, visiting the meeting, reminded the board not to count on the extra funds yet.
"There's never enough money," she said. "Just because the amendment passed doesn't mean it will be funded."
Posted by kelly_41_2000 on August 20, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So essentially we are going to spend around $500,000 to repair some bad business decisions.
It seems to me if someone was dumb enough to locate before an exit they should have to live with it.
Posted by fasteddie on August 20, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cost of building a new exit because people are to stupid to get off at the right exit and turn around to get where they want to go: $500k
Cost of putting up a sign telling people to get off where they should: Maybe a coulpe k
Being in a city that makes some of the most stupid decisions anywhere: priceless
Posted by Tumbleweed on August 20, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
According to KTXS news this morning we the taxpayers are going to be out 100K and the rest is being payed by the developer.
Posted by JoeBob on August 20, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Figures we taxpayers have to pay to fix a road for profitable businesses. I hope they go out of business for this change now.
Posted by abtech on August 20, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You people need to get out of your cave every now and then. This was a good decision. The money will pay off in economic development of the area. You realize economic development means more tax base.
Posted by Tumbleweed on August 20, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
abtech tell me why tax money should be used for a business profitability versus returned to the taxpayer or saved for a rainy day?
Posted by officerx on August 20, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
fasteddie..."Being in a city that makes some of the most stupid decisions anywhere: priceless".
Nope, you misspoke. Fasteddie getting off his butt instead of b*tching and running for city council or mayor to change things since he is so perfect and ALWAYS makes the right and correct decision for all of us: WOULD be priceless.
You know, if you all really hate Abilene and the local government so much.....run for office to change it or friggin leave. Pretty simple.
Posted by fasteddie on August 20, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
officerxyz whateverwhogivesacrap,
maybe if i lived here by choice i might be tempted. but even then, no way would i, and it's a little easier said than done telling somebody to run for office or leave. maybe you should run so you can make abilene to most perfect place in the entire world so people wouldn't always complain about the stupid things this city does and how if it wasn't for their job being here they would leave in a heart beat
Posted by mbs0606 on August 20, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well at least the have ONE good idea, HWY 351 near Walmart. What a nightmare. I just wish they would have fixed that area before they actually put the Walmart there. Are they only changing the access roads because that intersection is crazy. Lights green... Oh great.. I blinked... It's red... AHHHH!
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