1431 Construction DANGEROUS!

[JSKR]

Someone is going to get killed over there. It is so dangerous I cannot believe the engineers or law enforcement or someone with some authority hasn't made some kind of change.

Slow it to 35mph, move the barrier over a bit, SOMETHING!

I saw a truck in front of me the other day end up on that **** 4" high curb, start to lose control, kind of fishtail, then pull back into the road but pull back too far and end up in the oncoming traffic lane!!!
Another truck got stuck on that curb and couldn't get off.
Another lady in a truck in front of me swerving into the oncoming lane constantly. I thought for sure it was a texter or cell phone user. It appeared to just be a really bad driver or perhaps drunk.

There is NO room for error there, yet people go way faster than the posted 45. There are NO cops there ever any of the times I am driving it. Someone needs to do something.
Basically, if a vehicle is coming at you while you are driving in to town, there is no way to avoid a collision. There is nowhere to go.

Who would someone contact to get something done?

[tonigking]

You are absolutely right.

I've started going to the HEB in Kingsland and avoiding MF unless I absolutely have to go in.
Won't they ever finish !

[whiteorchid]

Why in heaven's name would they put a residential curb on a public highway? There's nowhere to go but up a curb if someone is coming at you. I've had a truck coming towards me in my lane but thankfully he moved at the last minute. It's extremely scary and unsafe.

Something needs to be done - either finish the work or remove that darn curb! Obviously someone is asleep at the wheel - no pun intended. If any of you want to get signs and go protest I'll join in! Maybe the gas station on 1431 and Industrial would let us picket.

I'm adamant about this nonsense. Somebody out there doesn't care about our safety.

[Webmaster]

I saw a lady driving a Cadillac Escalade eastbound drift over and kiss the wall with the passenger side of her vehicle. Put a nice crease right down the body of the truck and threw some sparks.

Going westbound, the concrete forming the curb is sticking up a good couple of inches above the asphalt and could seriously damage wheels or tires if you're not paying attention.

The whole thing is a giant mess and I will be extremely glad when it's finished. I just wish they had finished it before school started.

[lmam88]

You are absolutely right.

I've started going to the HEB in Kingsland and avoiding MF unless I absolutely have to go in.
Won't they ever finish !


Mee too!

[Reapp]

Someone is going to get killed over there. It is so dangerous I cannot believe the engineers or law enforcement or someone with some authority hasn't made some kind of change.

Slow it to 35mph, move the barrier over a bit, SOMETHING!

I saw a truck in front of me the other day end up on that **** 4" high curb, start to lose control, kind of fishtail, then pull back into the road but pull back too far and end up in the oncoming traffic lane!!!
Another truck got stuck on that curb and couldn't get off.
Another lady in a truck in front of me swerving into the oncoming lane constantly. I thought for sure it was a texter or cell phone user. It appeared to just be a really bad driver or perhaps drunk.

There is NO room for error there, yet people go way faster than the posted 45. There are NO cops there ever any of the times I am driving it. Someone needs to do something.
Basically, if a vehicle is coming at you while you are driving in to town, there is no way to avoid a collision. There is nowhere to go.

Who would someone contact to get something done?

I patrol out there a few times a day, I have yet to catch anyone speeding. I don't doubt they do it, but we can't post someone out there all the time to catch the select few that can't obey the limit. As far as the barriers go, we have zero input in that - that is all done by TXDOT and conforms to the guidelines they have set. We did work the area very heavily when the construction first started to hopefully "set the pace" if you will, but it's nearly impossible to do safely now.

As far as there being "no room for error", not a whole lot that can be done out there. The barricades are there to protect the workers from traffic. If you see someone driving poorly, call the police and do your part to get them off the road. Oh and please be a little more descriptive than "a white car is driving bad on 1431." :D

[mdarling]

The kicker for me was the day someone's vehicle had broken down in the westbound lane. They tried to pull off the road, but the vehicle was still hanging out in the driving lane. I'm frankly surprised there wasn't a wreck.

[Mustang_Spirit]

We were hauling our boat and trailer to the lake last weekend and stopped at the HEB in Marble Falls for gas. Everything was fine at that time. We drove to the lake and discovered our front tire on the right side of our trailer was slashed as if a sharp object had cut into the entire side of the tire. The tire cannot be repaired. Luckily, it didn't unravel while on the road. We can only assume it is because our trailer tire went across that elevated cement lip near the curb and sliced it. TXDOT really messed up on the design of that stretch of the road.

Does anyone know if they plan on raising the asphalt level to the same level as the concrete? The curb on that highway is insane! Vehicles are going to flip or swerve into the oncoming traffic when they hit it.

I agree with an earlier post... The speed limit needs to be reduced to 35 mph where the curb and barriers are located.

[Jubilee]

I agree, it is a very dangerous area. I have submitted a complaint to TxDot. Maybe if everyone who is concerned submits a complaint we can get some attention on the project. Here is the link to the complaint form http://www.txdot.gov/apps/externalcraftform/externalcomplaintform.aspx
I believe the project number is 137804039. From the information on the website - it appears the project is over budget and way past the completion timeline. Here is the link to the project tracker...
http://apps.dot.state.tx.us/apps/project_tracker/projectdetails.htm?projid=137804039&dist=Austin

[butchkemper]

Does anyone know if they plan on raising the asphalt level to the same level as the concrete? The curb on that highway is insane! Vehicles are going to flip or swerve into the oncoming traffic when they hit it.
When the roadbed on both sides is completed, one of the last project phases will be the final layer of asphalt. The top of that asphalt layer will be even with the concrete curb.

This is what I have seen while watching other road construction projects.

Butch

[JakRussll]

When the roadbed on both sides is completed, one of the last project phases will be the final layer of asphalt. The top of that asphalt layer will be even with the concrete curb.

This is what I have seen while watching other road construction projects.

Butch
I don't think so Butch. The curbs have to stay there because their primary purpose is to direct water into the rain gutters that are installed. Why does the road there need rain drainage gutters? Beats me! They are expensive and if not for the pipe that was laid for them, this project would have been over months ago.

I don't know what the speed limit will be when the road is finished, but it will need to be considerably lower than before because of the curbs. Like many of you I am perplexed here. What is the purpose of the curbs/gutters? Why not just widen the lanes some? There is little commerce on the south side of the road (2 drives) and and none on the north side......so why this expensive project? Was this a low-water restricted access area before? That would be news to me.

I am inclined to believe that you just can't really explain pork barrel spending. A lot of state money went to this road contractor and his hired hands from out-of-town.

[Jubilee]

Response that I received from TxDot:
Thank you for your inquiry.

Your questions can be best addressed by the staff in the Austin District Office. By copy of this e-mail, I am asking them to respond to you directly.

If you would like to speak with someone, their office phone # is (512) 832-7000 or you can e-mail the office directly through web page http://www.txdot.gov/contact_us/form/?id=aus-email

Contact me if I can assist you further.


Lola Lee-Amador
Public Info & Open Records
Construction Division
(512) 416-2558 - Phone
(512) 416-2539 - FAX
E-mail: CST_PublicInfo_OpenRecords@txdot.gov

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[Caretaker]

I don't think so Butch. The curbs have to stay there because their primary purpose is to direct water into the rain gutters that are installed. Why does the road there need rain drainage gutters? Beats me! They are expensive and if not for the pipe that was laid for them, this project would have been over months ago.

I don't know what the speed limit will be when the road is finished, but it will need to be considerably lower than before because of the curbs. Like many of you I am perplexed here. What is the purpose of the curbs/gutters? Why not just widen the lanes some? There is little commerce on the south side of the road (2 drives) and and none on the north side......so why this expensive project? Was this a low-water restricted access area before? That would be news to me.

I am inclined to believe that you just can't really explain pork barrel spending. A lot of state money went to this road contractor and his hired hands from out-of-town.


I too think the curbs should not be there. Just widen the lanes and/or the road.

As far as such an expensive project. Its tied into to the MFs comprehensive plan. A lot of things are slated for the west side along with whats planned for GS. They call it infrastructure.Its suppose to be for the growth.

[Jubilee]

For anyone interested, TxDOT responded promptly to my inquiry. I have copied and pasted it below. It should answer some of your questions.
From TxDOT:

Thank you for your comment. I understand you and your neighbors are very
concerned with the RM 1431 construction zone. The contractor completing the
roadway widening is working diligently to complete this project as quickly as
possible. Weather permitting we have paving scheduled for this Wednesday and
should take about a week to complete. This work will remedy the uneven lane
situation you described in your comments. We are on the final stages of this
project and expect to be completely finish by the end of the month.

Please let me know if you have any other comments or concerns.

Thanks,




Marisabel Z. Ramthun, P.E.
Assistant Area Engineer
TxDOT - Burnet Area Office
512-715-5702
Fax: 512-756-4251

[JWebb]

Thank you, Jubilee.

[Jubilee]

Update from TxDot:

Sent: Wed, Sep 15, 2010 9:44 am
Subject: Fwd: Re: TxDOT Internet E-Mail
Just wanted to give you an update regarding the RM 1431 project. We had paving
operations scheduled for today, but unfortunately had to be delayed. The
contractor is now planing on starting the paving on Monday, September 20, 2010.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Thanks,
Marisabel