Travis County Commissioners Court
January 30, 2007
Item 1
Number 1 is a public hearing to receive comments regarding a request to temporarily close old kimbro road to through traffic from us 290 to old highway 20 in precinct one for road reconstruction starting January 31, 2007 and continuing for one year or until construction is completed.
>> move that the public hearing be opened.
>> second.
>> all in favor? That passes unanimously.
>> good morning, joe gieselman of the transportation natural resources department. Along with don warden, don wheeler from the road and bridge division. This is one of our reconstruction projects for this coming year. We intend to totally reconstruct a two lane roadway, old kimbro, to another two lane roadway, but with -- with structure to -- to withstand heavy truck traffics, capital aggregates is constructing a -- a batch plant on old kimbro -- on kimbro road. At liddick, they have provided a contribution to the county to help pay for the reconstruction of the roadway to help withstand the heavy trucks. That contribution along with our road and bridge funds will pay for the construction. We expect the -- we -- the project is going out for bid, we expect to have the bids in here in a couple of weeks. This -- this public hearing was actually set about a month ago. We had already expected it had the -- to have the bids in by this time. It's not essential that you close the road tomorrow because we are still in the process of bidding this out, so you have some time to consider the closure. But we are recommending closure in part for public safety. And cost as well. The -- there are detour routes that will allow the -- the folks in the area to get out to 290. That would be on -- on old highway 20 and also littig road. Littig is recently reconstructed, almost a brand new road at this point. The -- the purpose of this public hearing is to receive public testimony with regard to the proposed closure. I might add that we have not only posted notice in the field, but also spoken with the property owners along the roadway who will have access to the property throughout the duration of construction. The closure is foreclosure to through traffic.
>> have we received any objections or --
>> not to my knowledge.
>> would anyone like to give testimony during this public hearing? Seeing none --
>> move that the public hearing be closed.
>> second.
>> would anyone like to give testimony about this item? Please come forward.
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> come on up to the table.
>> if you would give us your full name, we will try to answer that question.
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> have a seat, mr. Donahue, get real comfortable there.
>> okay, thank you. The gentleman said that the people were notified, I wasn't notified. I didn't hear anything about it until two or three weeks ago. I live on kimbro.
>> you live on kimbro?
>> yes, I do. I'm right in the middle of it. I have no objections to the improvement. I'm not here to argue with you. As a matter of fact it's been needed. Where have you been? My question is -- it seems, I'm not pointing fingers, you telling me you are going to start construction on the road on the 31st, you are telling me that I have got a hearing I can come to on the 29th. Gives me a lot of time to think about it. I was not notified. I was not told a blessed thing about it. I heard from a friend that kimbro road was being considered for -- for improvement, to like four lanes or through road going all the way up into the hills or whatever. That's it, that came from a friend. The notification was poor. I just want to let you know that. Other than that, I say let's get this road done.
>> okay. Now, we locked up -- there is some delay, correct?
>> that's correct. We are expecting at least two weeks before we receive the goods. And the closure whereas we asked for a year, we expected the construction can be done about 120 days, about six months. Of course that's all dependent on whether we get a lot of rain and prolong the construction. But -- but so it's -- we put a little buffer, if the court desires to -- to close the road for less than a year, we wait -- we belief 8 months is do youable. We -- doable. I apologize for not personally notifying everyone along the roadway. You do understand that you will have access to your property.
>> that was my next question.
>> yes, you will.
>> joe, we need to make sure that he's comfortable, you know, exchange address with mr. Gieselman there, sir, and we will follow up. It's important to be notified but sometimes --
>> I understand things happen. But what about mail delivery?
>> same.
>> they will have access?
>> any type of public service to the adjoining properties will be --
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> thank you, mr. Donahue. I appreciate it.
>> new road is on the way.
>> it's needed.
>> thank you.
>> dirt road almost. Thank you very much.
>> thank you for showing up. Anybody else to give testimony during this public hearing? If so, please come forward.
>> move to close the public hearing.
>> second.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. This will be action item no. 18 on today's agenda.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 6:55 AM