Monday, October 30, 2006

COUNTY COMMISSIONER SPEAKS ON 71


Gerald Daugherty, county commissioner, spoke to a group of residents from Spanish Oaks and the Preserve Monday evening. Our number one concern was traffic and a light on 71. Bottom line: the light isn't likely.

A light at S.O. Blvd would back up traffic as it flies over the hill heading east, right into the rear of the backup.

Widening the road for a middle turn lane would not happen for about 6 years once the process has begun (it hasn't.) Environmental concerns about the bridge would likely stop any widening, and there's not enough road from the bridge to S.O. Blvd for a center lane there.

Some called for less speed on 71.

What we can do: call or write the governor (who appoints the 5 member highway commission), Daugherty repeatedly said that the 'squeaky wheel' gets noticed and the way to exert pressure would be to make the calls, have meetings, and express our concerns clearly (and he'd help as he shares our concerns.)

Discovery Land thinks the back road will be completed in January or February at this point.

Noted: how hard it was to find the West entrance into S.O. in the dark. Several owners expressed that they had real difficulty. So did we. Even reflectors would help.

The turn from 71 (westbound) onto 620 is slated to have twin right turn lanes (as you might know - it takes about a half hour mornings to get to that turn, which is now one lane. TxDot will fix that as the work approaches completion.

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