US 277 Super 2 Safe Passing Lanes Project Begins
LAREDO — Today at a ceremonial groundbreaking event at the Dimmit/Maverick County line, the US 277 Super 2 Passing Lanes Project was officially begun amidst elected officials from both counties and TxDOT representatives.
In order to improve traffic efficiency in this rural section of road, the US 277 Super 2 Widening and Rehabilitation Project through Maverick and Dimmit counties will be constructed by Anderson Colombia, Inc. at a cost of $10.8 million made possible by State of Texas Proposition 12 funds.
Approximate construction start date is October 15, 2013. The traveling public will experience periodic one-way traffic control with possible use of pilot cars. Estimated construction time is 11 months, approximately, weather permitting.
The project will consist of a widening of US Highway 277 to construct a series of two-mile safe passing lanes segments over a total project length of 38.212 miles on both sides of the Dimmit-Maverick County line. Passing lanes will provide passage for slower traffic while speed limit abiding folks use of the existing portion of US 277.
In the rural areas associated with these three projects, the current roadway lacks location for faster moving vehicles to pass slower moving vehicles. The purpose of the project is to widen the roadway by adding passing lanes and lengthen the existing drainage structures with passing lanes. These improvements will bring the roadway up to current TxDOT safety and design standards for a Super 2 facility.
The first segment if from the intersection of US 277 and US 57 to approximately 8.2 miles east, the second segment is from approximately 8.2 miles east of the Eagle Pass Relief Route to the Maverick/Dimmit county line, and the third segment is from approximately the Maverick/Dimmit County line to approximately 0.8/2 mile north of State Loop 517. Work will be conducted sequentially, one project at a time to full completion per segment.
These improvements such as the Super 2 project provide enhanced safety and additional mobility capacity until future traffic demands require a full four lane widening of the roadway.
TxDOT officials and several elected officials were present at the event to include Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo and Maverick County Commissioner Jerry Morales, Dimmit County Judge Francisco Ponce and Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu. Representing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) at the event was Melisa D. Montemayor, Laredo District Administrator and other TxDOT staff members from the Laredo District Office and the Eagle Pass Maintenance office.
