FORNEY, Texas – The U.S. Highway 80 ramp relocation project, “Liberty Hill Project,” will move forward under Kaufman County's direction after a vote by the Forney City Council on Tuesday night, September 16, 2014.
FORNEY, Texas – The U.S. Highway 80 ramp relocation project, “Liberty Hill Project,” will move forward under Kaufman County's direction after a vote by the Forney City Council on Tuesday night, September 16, 2014.
The City of Forney has been working with H.W. Lockner over the last two years on schematics and environmental clearance to relocate and construct ramps on the south side of U.S. Highway 80 between Farm-to-Market (FM) 460 and FM 740/Pinson Road – an area which has seen its fair share of major accidents.
The Forney City Council voted to terminate its current contract with H.W. Lockner and allow the county to complete the project as part of the Kaufman County Transportation Bond program which was passed by county voters in November 2013. $2 million in the bond was designated for the Liberty Hill Project.
At this point in the contract with H.W. Lockner, the termination would not find the City of Forney in breach of the contract terms, stated Assistant City Manager Gina Nash. Therefore, there would not be any penalties assessed for the termination of the contract.
The county stands ready to fund the project after approval from the Texas Department of Transportation, Precinct 2 Commissioner Ray Clark told inForney.com last month in an update on the project.
The scope of the project includes closing the U.S. Highway 80 onramp at FM 460 and an exit ramp will be constructed in its place which will serve as the Broad Street exit. The current Broad Street exit near Liberty Hill will be closed and an exit ramp will be constructed approximately 100 yards to the east which will serve as the FM 740/Pinson Road exit. The current FM 740/Pinson Road exit will be closed and an onramp will be constructed in its place.
The frontage road will also be constructed to follow U.S. Highway 80 instead requiring a left hand turn after Liberty Hill to remain on the frontage road.
A construction timeline was not immediately available. inForney.com will continue to provide updates on this project as they become available.
