New update for the proposed Interstate 14 that would cross into Bryan
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -Phase one of the I-14 Central Texas Corridor Study will officially begin on October 18 after many years of discussion.
Bob Colwell, the Public Information Officer for TxDOT in Bryan, said the entire study will take about seven years for it to be complete.
“This is the very first, the kickoff, of the I-14 central Texas corridor study,” Colwell said.
The new interstate is expected through the Brazos Valley and potentially alleviate some traffic in areas like Highway 21 and Highway 6.
The first phase of this study will determine the feasibility of the route to ensure that it meets interstate standards.
College Station’s Mayor, John Nichols, said the first phase will last about three years.
“The first phase is the one that is just starting and will last three years to come up with three possible alignments that might work,” Nichols said.
TxDOT will be hosting a series of open house meetings including one at the Legends Event Center on October 25 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
“It’s to get the word out that the project is underway and to collect input from the public,” said Nichols.
“We are just inviting the public to come out because they know their property and their counties better than we do,” Colwell said.
I-14 will move eastward from Rogers in Bell County to Huntsville in Walker County, stopping in Bryan along the way.
Former College Station Mayor Karl Mooney said planning needs to start as soon as possible since development can take up to 20 years.
“Now is the time to start acquiring the land that will have to go because all of that will become more and more expensive over time,” Mooney said.
The study will also include the evaluation of Loop I-214 in South College Station.
In addition to in-person meetings, there is also an online option that can be found on TxDOT’s website (keyword search ‘I-14 Central Texas’).
Residents must submit their comments by Monday, November 20 in order for them to be included in the official open-house summary.
Below is a press release from TxDOT with the dates of six in-person open-house meetings:
I-14 Public Meeting Media Release by KBTX on Scribd
