CC71 - Citizens for Change on 71

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Update on Hwy 71 Projects
Wednesday July 2nd 2008
Dear Neighbors,

Yesterday evening TxDOT held a meeting to present decisions made on projects for road improvements on Hwy 71 after public comment from April's Open House. I attended on behalf of the Briarcliff City Council.

According to District Engineer Bob Daigh, the plan is to widen Hwy 71 from just west of Oak Hill to Pace Bend Road (2322) to 5 lanes with 10 foot shoulders and soften the "s" curves when this happens. To fund much  of this (monies have been shrinking for road projects) they expect to use monies from a safety fund that our public officials have diligently been working to establish. Many of these projects should take 3 years until they are bid and then a year and a half of construction afterwards. Until then there are numerous ways TxDOT is working to improve safety on 71.

What is being done right now:

1.New asphalt is being poured for 5.75 miles called Permeable Friction Course that helps alleviate hydroplaning. It should be done by the end of next week if not sooner.

2.The area will be restriped.

3."Idiot" sticks (delineators) will be placed for about 1/3rd of a mile in the "s" curves. There will also be about a 4 foot space marked between lanes. Additionally, rumble strips in the middle of the road will be placed to alert drivers when they begin to cross into oncoming traffic. The four lanes will narrow to 11 feet in width instead of 12 feet. Concrete barriers will not be placed. (Neighbors were concerned that emergency vehicles would not be able to reach their houses in a timely fashion if concrete barriers were placed. It is also my understanding that the Bee Creek Bridges were much too narrow to allow for concrete barriers).

What will be done this October:

1. The widening of the Bee Creek Bridges will be put to bid (let) in October 2008. (To widen any road, bridges must be done first). 

2.The creation of 5 lanes from R.O. to Pace Bend Road will be let in October as well. This is the project that was created after the Easter Sunday tragedy many years ago (2001?) where a westbound couple turning left into Pedernales Canyon Drive was rear-ended and perished. After the tragedy TxDOT restriped the road, making one westbound lane a turn lane and leaving one lane westbound to 2322. They also created this project, which has been awaiting funding. It has been a long time coming, and now this project is finally becoming a reality.

What YOU need to do:

1.Thank your public officials for all that they are doing by way of e-mail, phone call or letter. Bob Daigh of TxDOT, County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, and Senator Kirk Watson especially deserve a hearty thanks for the work they have been doing. Contact info for public officials can be found at www.CC71.org 

2. Keep supporting grass roots groups like CC71 by showing unity and community in numbers. It is important to keep knowledgeable of the events, to attend public meetings, and to show continued passion regarding this stretch of highway. A PROJECT IS NOT SECURE UNTIL IT HAS GONE TO BID! 

3. Please stay vocal- write your representatives often to make sure they continually know how you feel regarding this stretch of highway. There are approximately 3 years until the projects that allow for a 5 lane highway with shoulders from Oak Hill to R.O. Drive are expected to materialize. If we stop being concerned and let apathy and silence reign during those 3 years, these projects could be in danger of fading into the background. Prolonged squeakiness will grease the wheel.

If you would like a copy of the handout or map given out last night at the meeting, please visit the Briarcliff Community Center or the Village of Briarcliff city offices- they have copies available. For those of you that attended- THANK YOU! Involvement in your community is invaluable.

Sincerely yours,
Linda Aldrich
Alderman, Village of Briarcliff


"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."- Gandhi