BASTROP - Additional improvements to State Highway 71 in Bastrop are scheduled to begin later this month. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) says construction crews will start converting SH 71 from its existing configuration into a freeway section on May 22. The job will consist of adding access roads and an overpass at State Highway 304 as well as U-turn lanes under the freeway at that intersection.

The project's appearance will be the same as the section of freeway previously built between Hasler Boulevard and Loop 150. "The walls will have the same lighted antique-looking stars, ‘State of Texas' emblems on special bridge rail and 82 trees planted throughout the 13 planters beds," says Project Engineer Diana Shulze. "Landscape pavers with stars engraved in them at certain locations will also be used at the SH 304 intersection."

The total project length will be just over a mile long and will cost $11.5-million to complete. According to TxDOT, the traffic will be moved to the access roads this fall while the main lanes are being constructed. The traffic will be moved back to the main lanes in the spring of 2007, with completion scheduled for April. TxDOT will work with the city and with businesses throughout the project to minimize the impact of construction.