US 277 from Wichita Falls to Abilene has been designated as part of the Texas Trunk System. The Texas Trunk System is a planned four-lane divided rural highway system that includes and compliments the Interstate Highway system. US 277 will be widened from two lanes to four lanes. The Wichita Falls District contracted with Carter & Burgess, Inc. to perform the advanced planning phase of this project from the Baylor/Knox County Line to the eastern city limits of Holliday in Archer County. The advanced planning phase of the project consisted of determining a feasible route for US 277, determining additional right-of-way needs for widening the roadway and securing an environmental clearance of the project.
The advanced planning phase of this project began in late April 1999. Alternatives for the roadway alignment through Seymour, Holliday, Mankins, Dundee and Mabelle were decided on after a series of public meetings in 1999 and 2000. Public meetings included a presentation of the each alternative's impact and a question and answer period. The alternatives were then revised and refined based upon engineering and environmental study, public comments, local committee input and review by TxDOT.
The preferred alternative for each town was then selected. The routes were publicly announced in March 2000. Finally design schematics were prepared for the preferred alternatives. The schematics and environmental assessment had to be submitted to the Austin office of TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for review and approval. The entire project has received final approval.
Public hearings were held in Seymour and Holliday in April 2002. Subsequently, a right-of-way map was prepared and the right-of-way acquisition process started in late 2002. Construction began in 2004 in Archer County and the last contract is anticipated to let in 2015.
Future Phases
Project Information
Adele Lewis
Public Information Officer
Wichita Falls District
1601 Southwest Parkway
Wichita Falls, Texas 76302-4906
(940) 720-7728
Email
Seymour Contractor
Zachry Construction Corp.
527 Logwood-78221
P.O. Box 240130
San Antonio, TX 78224-0130
(210) 475-8073
(210) 475-8796 fax