A pre-paving and traffic safety meeting was held Friday with the contractor and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) representatives to coordinate the resurfacing of Loop 286 at the US 271 South interchange, according to TxDOT spokesman, Tray Turner.
Southeast Loop 286 and US 271 interchange (eParisExtra photo by Josh Allen)
TxDOT awarded a construction contract to RK Hall Construction Co. of Paris for $1,594,290.85, which includes this work as well as other locations in Lamar, Fannin and Hopkins Counties.
“The work on the Loop and US 271 will take about three weeks to complete and consists of removing the old pavement, joint repairs, placing new pavement and placing striping and reflectors,” Turner said.
Milling the pavement surface will begin on Monday. This work will be performed under traffic and will require the temporary closure of two ramps at the interchange, according to TxDOT officials.
These two ramp closures will be for southbound US 271 traffic exiting right onto northbound Loop 286, and a closure of northbound loop traffic when merging with northbound US 271 traffic. Once the pavement surface is removed, some sections of the existing pavement will be repaired.
This portion of the work should take two weeks to complete. After these activities are complete, the resurfacing operation will begin.
“The re-surfacing will not begin until we get the joints repaired,” Turner said. “The traffic will be on a milled surface for less than two weeks before the resurfacing begins.”
TxDOT officials plan for most of this resurfacing work to be performed under traffic. There will be a closure of the ramp for southbound loop traffic exiting right on Clarksville Street. Separately, there will be a closure of the ramp for southbound US 271 traffic exiting right on to northbound Loop 286 and a closure of northbound loop traffic when merging with northbound US 271 traffic. Each of these closures will have a clearly signed detour.
All temporary ramp closures will be short term and all sections of the interchange will be open to traffic by the end of each day.
“It is very important that all traffic signs are obeyed,” Turner said.
There will be flagmen present to hold traffic as needed, but this work is a complex operation that involves many people and several pieces of heavy equipment. For both the safety of the traveling public and the workers on site, TxDOT asks drivers to slow down and avoid distraction.
Access to adjacent properties will be maintained throughout the duration of the contracted work.
The contractor will begin setting signs and bringing in equipment on Monday, July 29. Safety is a priority in this work zone and TxDOT urges the traveling public to observe warning signs during the construction of this project.
“It is TxDOT’s mission to work with others to provide safe and reliable transportation solutions for Texas,” Turner said.
By Josh Allen, eParisExtra