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[rte66man]

TxDOT loves them some one-lane bridges with traffic signals on FM roads.

i remember when there were 3 at one time on FM 455 in Collin County. Right now there are 2 in Denton County on the same road, and at least one on FM 428 in the ETJ of Aubrey.

How busy is FM455? If it's not too busy, it is WAY cheaper to do one lane at a time with traffic signals than to build a shoofly to maintain traffic in both directions.

Texas has virtually never built shoo-fly detours around non-urban (urban defined Primarily as the 500K + metro areas.) Traditionally they would build the bridge on an immediately adjacent bypass alignment like the one in the link below.

https://goo.gl/maps/9zbTNahN6y8J4aMv8

It created curves and required purchase of additional R.O.W.

Come to think of it, ODOT seems to make that decision depending on the span of the bridge as well as whether the overall alignment of the roadway can be improved by locating a new bridge on a new alignment.

[Bobby5280]

Yeah, there is quite a few one lane bridges that carry section line roads over Interstates here.

[bwana39]

TxDOT loves them some one-lane bridges with traffic signals on FM roads.

i remember when there were 3 at one time on FM 455 in Collin County. Right now there are 2 in Denton County on the same road, and at least one on FM 428 in the ETJ of Aubrey.

How busy is FM455? If it's not too busy, it is WAY cheaper to do one lane at a time with traffic signals than to build a shoofly to maintain traffic in both directions.

Texas has virtually never built shoo-fly detours around non-urban (urban defined Primarily as the 500K + metro areas.) Traditionally they would build the bridge on an immediately adjacent bypass alignment like the one in the link below.

https://goo.gl/maps/9zbTNahN6y8J4aMv8

It created curves and required purchase of additional R.O.W.

Come to think of it, ODOT seems to make that decision depending on the span of the bridge as well as whether the overall alignment of the roadway can be improved by locating a new bridge on a new alignment.

Generally, the ones Texas has done has had curves on both ends, some more egregious than others. The one-lane thing allows them to keep straighter geometry and does not usually require additional R.O.W.

[roadman65]

Found out this interesting tid bit. The goal post in Texas used for shield assemblies is used for other signs as well.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/52787226005
Looks like a mileage sign mooring using it.

[wxfree]

Near Blum, Texas, SH 174 bridge over the Brazos River down to one lane with traffic signals long term. News article from 2020 says that is when it started. Looks like it was done due to inadequate lane width. Bridge was built in 1950. Has to be a massive PITA for drivers. Bridge to be replaced soon.

News Article from 2020: https://www.kxxv.com/one-direction-of-travel-for-sh-174-bridge

The replacement bridge is now being built.  There are some columns up and the approach embankments are being built.  The old bridge was getting beaten up by heavy trucks passing over at high speeds.  The new bridge will have 10 foot shoulders and will be of much more sturdy construction.

[kernals12]

New funding stream for highways just dropped

Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently signed an electric vehicle tax into law.

The new bill, Senate Bill 505, requires $400 to register an electric vehicle along with other fees. Renewing registration will cost electric vehicle owners $200.

While the new tax will not apply to electric motorcycles, mopeds, or autocycles, the fee intends to ensure electric vehicle owners are paying highway costs that owners of gas-fueled vehicles pay for in a 20 cent-per-gallon gas tax.

Owners of gas-fueled vehicles pay an average of $130 in state gas taxes every year according to a report from the Dallas Morning News. This tax, plus the new electric vehicle tax are dedicated to the state highway fund.

With more than 30,000 new electric vehicles being added to the state roads this year, the new electric vehicle tax will generate approximately $38 million for the state highway fund, with gas and diesel to provide an estimated $3.8 billion in revenue for Texas in 2024.

The new electric vehicle tax goes into effect September 1, 2023.