The county is picking up momentum on the Collin County Outer Loop project as construction for another segment of roadway is set to start next month.

During an Aug. 5 Collin County Commissioners Court meeting, commissioners approved a contract with Mario Sinacola & Sons Excavating for the construction of a southern, eastbound frontage road and a portion of Outer Loop main lanes between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road in the Celina area.

Construction is expected to start in September, with completion pegged for summer 2021.

Upwards of $18.5 million will be awarded to the excavation company for construction, $5 million of which will come from unused funds left over from a previously issued amount for a segment of Outer Loop between US 75 and SH 121 that has since been completed. Remaining funds will come from previously approved 2018 bonds set aside for the project.

In addition, design work is taking place on another segment of Outer Loop between Preston and Custer roads.

Once complete, the freeway is proposed to extend east from the Denton County and Collin County line then south to Rockwall County. The loop is expected to help relieve traffic on US 380 and SH 78.