Senator wants RR 1431 widening moved up highway department list

State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, said a project to widen 1431 was already in the works before the fiery Nov. 28 accident that killed 44-year-old Granite Shoals resident Lucia Fonseca about a mile east of the city.

Department of Public Safety investigators said they weren’t sure what caused Fonseca’s 1996 Chevrolet Trailblazer to leave the road and enter a steep embankment, where it flipped over and burst into flames.

For years, residents have cited safety concerns as they pressed authorities to widen that portion of 1431, which narrows into two lanes near the intersection of the future Manzano Mile, one of the entrances to the new Colt Elementary School.

School officials expect both the Manzano Mile and the 600-student campus to be open in time for classes next fall.

Fraser said a widening project has been in the planning stages for some time, but never got off the ground due to funding woes at TxDOT.

“There is the intention to do what’s being asked for,” Fraser told The Daily Tribune. “The funds just haven’t been available for it yet.”

While 1431 is a state-maintained road, Fraser said Burnet County authorities pledged years ago to commit funds to make the road safer.

“On that part of the road, the state is responsible for the maintenance, and the county is responsible for paying 10 percent of the costs for acquiring the right of way,” he said. “They county has appropriated money to do that and is ready to write a check.”

One part of 1431 just inside the city limits was widened from two to five lanes several years ago after a number of auto accidents soon after the opening of Marble Falls High School.

Cash-strapped TxDOT has been unable to fund their part of the new project, mainly because the widening was low on local transportation officials’ priority list, Fraser said.

The request to local TxDOT engineer Howard Lyons Tuesday may change that, the senator added.

“I put in an official request that this project be moved to high priority because of safety concerns,” Fraser said. “What that does, is it will allow him to take it to the TxDOT directors in Austin and request to them that it be moved up.”

Because the project was already in the planning stages, Fraser said his request to prioritize the road widening has a greater chance of becoming reality.

State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, said he expects the federal government to free up money for road and bridge projects across the country, including the 1431 widening.

“The only thing is, those are for projects that are construction-ready,” Aycock said. “That means they’ve already got the planning complete and the right-of-way property purchased.”

Lyons earlier told The Daily Tribune that a safety study prior to the start of construction on Manzano Mile indicated 1431 wouldn’t require any additional widening to support added traffic near the new intersection.

Even so, Lyons said he’s long hoped to widen the entirety of 1431 in Burnet County, similar to a section that was repaved and widened about seven miles east of the city.

“We’ve fixed many of those curves where they’ve had repeated accidents,” he said. “We’ve finished most of the middle parts of the highway, and we’re hoping to complete the portion near the Marble Falls city limit next.”

Though Fraser’s request will likely bump 1431 up on TxDOT’s project list, officials are still urging residents to share their opinions on the road with TxDOT and elected leaders.

“Certainly letters from our constituents help,” he said. “The more people who support the projects, the easier it is for us to press TxDOT for change.”

chris@thepicayune.com

Map by Marvin Smith