Love The News On Overpasses TXDOT, Tyler Needs More Of Them, Make It Happen Please

If there's one thing Tyler, Texas is missing it's not H-E-B, it's not In-N-Out Burger, it's not Costco or Trader Joe's, hell, it's not even a Dave And Busters or now a Putt-Putt Golf and Games. What Tyler, Texas is missing is overpasses.

Yes, overpasses.

Anyone who drives in Tyler for any distance or length of time will tell you that traffic is awful and there are too many traffic lights and no overpasses to bypass busy intersections.

Look at Lufkin and Texarkana, cities smaller than Tyler, they have overpasses. Even Bullard, Texas, and the Hwy 69 and FM 346 interchange in Smith County have an overpass now.

Well, one Tyler intersection is about to receive a huge upgrade, TXDOT will be constructing an overpass at Old Jacksonville Hwy. (FM 2493) and Grande Blvd. (Hwy. 57) intersection thanks to the upcoming expansion of Old Jacksonville Hwy.

TXDOT Tyler District spokesperson Jeff Williford says 'funding has been secured for the overpass and plans have been drawn up, next they’ll allow contractors to bid on the construction and maintenance contracts, which is known as the “letting process."' (CBS19)

Construction on the expansion project isn't scheduled until 2028. Until then, we'll still have to endure the traffic and signals until work is completed.

Jeff Williford said there are several road projects in the works for Tyler. In addition to the widening of Old Jacksonville Hwy., TXDOT will also be widening FM 756, FM 2964, FM 346, and a southern portion of S. Broadway Ave. All of these projects are in the planning stages and are several years away from the beginning.

Tyler and Smith County residents can learn about these road projects and many more by attending a Tyler Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (Tyler MPO) meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd from 5 pm to 6 pm at the Tyler Development Center conference room.

I just wish the Old Jacksonville expansion plans would have included an overpass at Loop 323 and Old Jacksonville Hwy.  At least though this is a start.