By N. BRADFORD
Reporter News Staff
A years-long expansion project planned for Smith Ranch Road will likely begin construction in early 2024.
Planning began in 2016 for the project that will eventually transform the two-lane portion of Smith Ranch Road into four lanes. The two-lane portion runs from north of FM 518 to Hughes Ranch Road.
“We are finishing up the design work and getting ready to go to bid this fall,” City Manager Trent Epperson said during a June 26 meeting, during which the city approved a $987,000 construction management and inspections contract, as well as $165,335 in design and land acquisition changes.
“All these are things above the original design scope,” Epperson said.
Changes included driveway and drainage revisions and a temporary driveway for a nearby shopping center. The construction management contract, amendments and the added cost passed the council 4-1, with Councilman Rushi Patel voting no.
“My understanding is this is a $12 million project and we’re paying $1.6 (million) just for design,” Patel said. “I’m having a hard time swallowing this bill.”
About 80 percent of the expansion is being paid for with federal funds.
“We are having to design and work through TxDOT’s approval process, so there’s additional time the engineers have to spend to work us through all the additional approvals,” Epperson said. “We are getting 80 percent funded by outside sources. It doesn’t mean we don’t watch the dollars, but when you go through federal approval processes, it takes more.”
