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Traffic disruptions expected through end of year with County Line and Kennedy roadway improvements
City officials reviewed April 14 planned safety improvements for County Line Road and Kennedy Street as part of Elgin’s nearly $11 million project set to begin next week.
The project, funded by a Texas General Land Office grant and supplemented by developer fees, will cover about “This is what growth looks like. It’s uncomfortable, but once you get over that hump, it’s worth the sacrifice.”
Stacey Osborne (right), communications director for the city, eyes construction plans with Larry Young Paving contractors at the First Baptist Church in Elgin.
— City Manager Robert Eads
4,639 feet along County Line Road, Central Avenue, Kennedy Street and Brenham Road. Officials said work will start April 27 and should address flooding concerns with much-needed drainage upgrades.
“This is a drainage project — It’s about the safety of our community first,” City Manager Robert Eads said.
Residents should expect temporary road closures and changes to traffic during construction, according to the city. Officials said construction could last up to nine months as crews work to meet a strict grant deadline through the end of the year.
City council awarded the contract in March to Larry Young Paving, following a competitive bid process, according to Development Services Director Beau Perry.
Perry said the project aims to resolve persistent flooding issues that have repeatedly closed roads in the area as well as bring higher standards and modernization to those roadways. The community meeting last week was designed to give residents an opportunity to review plans and raise concerns directly with city staff, engineers and contractors.
According to city documents, Kennedy Street will be rebuilt as a standard residential roadway with sidewalks, County Line Road will be expanded to include multiple lanes and medians, and Central Avenue will see a new bridge built to replace a culvert that has failed on several occasions.
“Lots of drainage problems … and these projects are going to fix those issues and those concerns,” Perry said. “We’ve also been able to improve those roadways.”
While construction will disrupt daily routines, Perry said, the project comes with nearly no added financial burden for the city.
“Imagine that the city is paying (a 1% match) and they’re getting about $11 million back from the government in order to build these two roadways,” he said.
To meet requirements tied to the grant funding, officials said the city plans to complete the work on an accelerated timeline rather than in phases. Construction is expected to take place simultaneously on both sections of the project, with separate crews assigned to each area.
“If we were to take it in pieces … we will not make the deadline,” Eads said. “Let’s get in, let’s get out and let’s do it right.”
According to Eads, traffic congestion will be one of the biggest challenges as construction moves forward. Emergency crews have coordinated with local agencies to ensure first responders can still access affected areas during construction.
“This is what growth looks like. It’s uncomfortable, but once you get over that hump, it’s worth the sacrifice,” Eads said, adding communication with residents will remain a priority throughout construction.
More information and project updates can be found at elgintexas.gov.
City Manager Robert Eads addresses the crowd during Elgin’s community meeting April 14, outlining upcoming roadway improvements and expected impacts. Photo by Dylan Roddy
