According to officials at Texas Department of Transportation, the widening of Austin Avenue/ FM 2524 and the Willis Creek Bridge, from Norwood to Brooks in Brownwood should begin in mid-October.

Currently, crews are in Phase 1 of the project which includes construction of underground utilities and storm drainage.  During this phase, traffic has been maintained on existing pavement and most of the work has been in the right of way of Austin Avenue.

TxDOT Public Information Officer Darah Waldrip for the Brownwood and Abilene Districts stated in a recent email that this phase has been delayed slightly according to an update she had received last week.  She urged drivers to be cautious throughout all of the stages of the project.

“The utility relocations are taking a little longer than anticipated (due to rains received last week), so we now expect to begin with the actual construction about mid-October,” Waldrip explained.  “However, drivers should still use caution and watch for workers in the area while the utility work is being finished, and especially once the construction starts.”

In mid-October, Phase 2 will begin with the widening of the Willis Creek Bridge, and construction of the south half of the roadway will begin.  Traffic will be shifted to the north half of the road and will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction.

Phase 3 will follow and include the construction of the north half of the road.  Traffic will then be shifted to the south half of the road and will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction.

Finally, Phase 4 will complete the project with the final surfacing of the new reconstructed roadway.

The widening of this portion of roadway and the Willis Creek Bridge is expected to help traffic flow and help with safety issues as drivers traveling southbound will no longer be forced to merge into one lane as they approach the currently two lane bridge.

The 1.026 mile project is being completed by Jay Mills Contracting, Incorporated.   The total cost of the project, according to TxDOT, is $4,712,099.43.