TxDOT to hold Feb. 16 public meeting for replacement of US 77 Viaduct bridge

WAXAHACHIE — The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will hold a public meeting regarding the proposed improvements to United States Highway 77 (US 77) from Farm-to-Market (FM) 66 to north of McMillan Street in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at the Waxahachie Civic Center located at 2000 Civic Center Lane, Waxahachie, Texas 75165. The meeting will be held in an open house format from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The purpose of the Public Meeting is to present the proposed project to the public and receive comments. The proposed project involves demolition and replacement of the existing US 77 Viaduct with a northbound bridge and construction of a new parallel bridge to the west of the Viaduct for southbound traffic. The project also involves reconstruction of the existing US 77 (Elm Street) and Monroe Street to provide a couplet system that would tie into the proposed bridges. Both bridges would cross over a linear park (Waxahachie Creek Hike and Bike Trail). The purpose of the proposed project is to overcome the inadequacies and structural deterioration of the existing US 77 Viaduct and to provide better mobility through dowtown Waxahachie. The proposed improvements would potentially require approximately 3.8 acres of new right of way (ROW) and 0.13 acre for proposed easements.

Maps showing the proposed project's location and geometric design will be available for viewing at the Public Meeting. This information will also be available for public inspection Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the TxDOT Dallas District Office, 4777 East Highway 80 Mesquite, Texas 75150.

All interested citizens are invited to attend this public meeting. Written comments from the public regarding this project are requested and may be presented for a period of 10 calendar days following the meeting. Written comments may be submitted either in person or by mail to the TxDOT District Office, Ms. Denise Lunski, P.E., Project Manager, 4777 East Highway 80 Mesquite, Texas 75150. Written comments must be received or postmarked by Friday, February 26, 2016 to be included in the Public Meeting Summary.

The Public Meeting will be conducted in English. Persons interested in attending the meeting who have special communication or accommodation needs or need an interpreter, are encouraged to contact the TxDOT Dallas District Public Information Office at (214) 320-4483. Requests should be made at least two days prior to the public meeting. Every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate these needs. If you have general questions or concerns regarding the proposed project, you may contact Ms. Denise Lunski, P.E. at (214) 320-6154.

The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 16, 2014, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT.