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Interstate Highway 35, Salado and Troy Texas, Bell County Widening Projects

By
Commercial Real Estate Agent with Jirasek Realty, LLC 361266

I-35 Pendleton Overpass

The Texas Transportation Commission unanimously voted on November 19, 2009 to spend approximately $2 billion in 74 new highway projects, including $418.1 million to expand Interstate Highway 35 through Bell County. The money comes from Proposition 12 bond proceeds, which Texas Voters approved in 2007 and the Legislature authorized earlier this year.

This I-35 widening is planned to be from FM 2843 to FM 2484 in Salado; and, from the north Loop 363 in Temple through Troy, through Falls County, and into McLennan County to Woodlawn Road.

This funding does not address widening of I-35 through Temple/Belton and Waco, as, like many other important projects across the state, some I-35 expansion projects will not meet the bonds' expenditure timeframe.

According to TxDOT website, other projects on the considered list for Bell County, but did NOT make the approved list, were new lanes on US 190 from SP 172 (Fort Hood Main Gate) to W.S. Young; US 190 "turnaround" at FM 2410; Construct frontage roads on Loop 363 in Temple from I-35 North to Hwy 53; Construct new lanes on Hwy 317 from FM 2305 to FM 439; an overpass at Hwy 195 and Stagecoach Road/SH201; Widen roadway on FM 437 from FM 940 to Hwy 53 in Zabcikville; Widen roadway on FM 1237 from Hwy 317 to I-35; and, Widen roadway on FM 935 from I-35 to Falls County line.

From 2006 through 2008, Bell and McLennan counties, both, had more than 200 vehicle crashes occur on Interstate 35, with more than 300 individual injuries suffered annually.

As one of the top corridor projects in the state, these planned improvements for I-35 will enhance safety for motorists and provide for more efficient movement of goods as traffic continues to grow into the years to come.

Comments (4)

Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Great picture!  Yes, I-35 needs widening.  I rarely travel I-35.  It is too congested for me.  I'd rather take the backroads, I usually get there faster.

Nov 22, 2009 06:55 AM
David Jirasek
Jirasek Realty, LLC - Temple, TX
ALC, CCIM

Thanks Ricki. I think most people agree, if there is another alternative, take it! I35 through Bell and McLennan Counties, is not as safe, effective or efficient to move people or goods through it, as it once was. It has never had continous frontage roads, and has entrances and exits poorly designed decades ago. Adding one more lane on each side doesn't need as much ROW taking as the new standards for entrances and exits do. As for adjacent cemeteries, the entrances and exits are just moved up or back so as not to need to move any graves. Lets hope some construction gets started in 2011 or sooner, to finally get this taken care of, for all of Texas to safely use again until another widening is needed!

Nov 22, 2009 11:24 PM
Stanton Homes
Stanton Homes - New Home Builder - Raleigh, NC
Design/Build Custom Home Builder in North Carolina

I'm getting dizzy just looking at that picture!  Love your local information.

Jan 10, 2010 10:12 PM
Anonymous
Chris Parsons
I think I-35 needs to be widened all the way thru Texas from Laredo to Oklahoma line. Lot's of big cities and population along I-35 corridor. Actually it needs to be 4 lanes each way. At least 5 lanes through Austin
Sep 12, 2010 01:10 PM
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