TxDOT updates Starr County on highway projects, lighting and safety concerns

Texas Department of Transportation representatives briefed the Starr County Commissioners Court on a series of road projects and maintenance issues during the court's Jan. 20 meeting.

Danny Flores, a TxDOT role manager representing the region, told the court the U.S. 83 divided-highway project (segment two, from Loma Blanca Road to Margarito Road) is under construction and “is at 8% right now,” and that the contractor is performing earthwork and preparing to start flex-based operations. He said the U.S. 83 overlay between Charcolancos Road and FM 3167 is in closeout and another divided-highway segment (from FM 2098 to the county line) is in final punch-list and closeout phases. Flores said FM 755 from FM 1017 to FM 2294 is under work and the contractor has completed right-of-way prep and was at about 15% completion on drainage and earthwork tasks.

The presentation covered upcoming work as well. Flores said a seal-coat surface treatment on FM 1017 (from FM 755 to the Jim Hogg County line) is scheduled for the county’s seal-coat season, “anywhere from mid April to mid May of 2025.” A sidewalk project on U.S. 83 in front of Roma High School is due to be let in April 2025, with construction expected two to three months after letting. He also outlined a three-segment State Loop 195 group of projects: the first segment was listed for letting in September 2025, the second moved to September 2026 and a third segment was tentatively scheduled for January 2029; Flores said those latter dates were tentative and that the second segment’s delay was tied to funding concerns.

Commissioners and staff raised safety and maintenance concerns during the question-and-answer portion. A commissioner asked about a delayed traffic signal at the Hernandez Road–U.S. 83 intersection and another signal that has been blinking for months. Fred Lopez, TxDOT maintenance section supervisor for Roma, and Flores said the blinking intersection was part of a section of roadway that had been transferred to a city after a realignment and that the city had been notified and is responsible for the signal. Flores said TxDOT would follow up with the traffic-signal section to try to get an update on the other signal.

The court also discussed a dark stretch at Arroyo Garcena where several serious crashes have occurred. Flores said lighting is controlled by TxDOT’s traffic-signal section and that county wooden poles adjacent to U.S. 83 could be considered for mounting luminaires where feasible; he said staff is evaluating sites for possible installation but that utility conflicts and topography limited options. Flores and Lopez said they had been coordinating with Roma city officials on utility relocations that are needed to accelerate some projects.

Flores said a consultant began a feasibility study in December to evaluate the segment between FM 755 and U.S. 83; he said the study should be finalized by mid‑2025 and would provide guidance on where it is most feasible to build. He told the court TxDOT plans to continue updating commissioners quarterly and that maintenance staff are “a phone call away” if the county wants to coordinate repairs.

The presentation closed with the court thanking TxDOT staff for the updates.