A record crowd attending this week’s Bryan/College Station chamber of commerce economic outlook conference heard updates on several projects involving local highways, streets, and some new locations of sidewalks.
Dan Rudge of the B/CS metropolitan planning organization said a first of its type design coming to the intersection of Harvey Mitchell Parkway and Holleman. When FM 2818 is widened to six lanes, thru traffic on Holleman will have to turn right then make a U-turn…something Rudge called a “Michigan left”.
Rudge also explained the $147 million dollar widening of Rudder Freeway began with an initial $13 million local payment to TxDOT. Then TxDOT found another $50 million in one program, then added the rest when the MPO said there were no plans to further widen Texas Avenue, something Rudge said was decided to protect current businesses.
Rudge also provided background about the extreme makeover of William Joel Bryan Parkway between the freeway and downtown Bryan, how future construction of sidewalks is in part due to the Brazos Transit District ending the practice of flagging down a bus at any location in conjunction with building new sidewalks, and a future hike and bike path starting at East 29th & Carter Creek Parkway in Bryan and continuing on Tarrow in College Station from the city limits to University.
Click below for comments from Dan Rudge: