State to close highway crossover
U.S. 59 crossover site of accident that claimed lives of elderly couple
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Considered among one of the more dangerous traffic locations in the region, the Wharton U.S 59 crossover intersection where two elderly motorists recently lost their lives will soon become a bad memory.

A Texas Department of Transportation project to replace the crossover - located just south of the FM 102/U.S. 59 overpass - with a new highway road is scheduled to be let in November, according to TxDOT Area Engineer Mark Wooldridge.

The preliminary plans for the project were completed in July by Marla Jasek, the director of transportation operations for the Yoakum District, which includes Wharton County. The cost is estimated at $1.004 million.

"This has been in the planning stage for a little over three years," Wooldridge said.

"The district is aware there has been a concern and has been working with the city and Nan Ya Plastics on a project that will improve plant access and road safety."

The proposed plans call for the construction of a new frontage road on the north side of the Nan Ya plant starting at the existing frontage road, crossing FM 102 and then connecting with the existing frontage road just east of Regional Medical Drive.

After completion, the frontage road leading to the crossover area would be closed. In addition to the other changes, the plan calls for the employee entrance to Nan Ya be moved to the north side of the plant property and the existing entrance closed.

"We will also be installing traffic signals on the frontage roads on both sides of the highway," Wooldridge said.

"It will create a much safer intersection. The traffic volume on FM 102 has increased enough to warrant the lights. In addition to eliminating the crossover, there won't be the traffic entering and exiting the plant right there on the farm road."

The crossover was the site of a double fatality wreck on Sept. 25 involving a 2005 tractor-trailer and a Nissan Morano. Wooldridge said it was the first serious accident he can recall since being assigned to this area three years ago.

"And we did run an accident check with the Department of Public Safety and found no reported accidents," he said.

"The problem is the 2003 records haven't been entered yet, the 2004 are incomplete and the 2005 statistics haven't been reconciled."

After a project is let, Wooldridge said it takes generally six weeks before construction begins as the agency checks on such items as insurance and bonding information and finalizes contract documents.

There is also a pre-construction conference that includes approving any subcontractors working on the project.

But because of the November let date, the start of construction could be pushed back into the start of the new year.

"With the project awarded in early November, the normal start time would mid-December," Wooldridge said. "Because of the holidays, we might allow it to be pushed back, but would still want to get it started in a timely fashion. We are expecting the construction to take six to eight months."