During an Aug. 19 Collin County Commissioners Court meeting, the county gained another 54 acres of land between Preston and Custer roads for the Outer Loop project's right of way.
The acreage is part of an 318-acre stretch previously owned by Belknap F.P. Ltd. Of this, the county purchased 42.74-acres for about $2.6 million, and the other 12.2 acres was donated to the county by Belknap.
"I am so thankful for this land owner working with us," Commissioner Susan Fletcher said during the August meeting. "... It is encouraging when things go like this. It helps everyone."
According to Belknap's representative at the meeting, the property owner recognized the value of an Outer Loop and wanted to help push the project along.
Design work for the Outer Loop segment between Preston and Custer began in June and is expected to take 18 months to complete.
This comes shortly after Commissioners, during an Aug. 10 meeting, approved a contract with Mario Sinacola & Sons Excavating for the construction of a portion of Outer Loop between the Dallas North Tollway and Preston Road in the Celina area. Construction of this stretch is expected to start in September, with completion pegged for summer 2021.
Once complete, the Outer Loop is proposed to extend east from the Denton County and Collin County line and then south to Rockwall County. The loop is expected to help relieve traffic on US 380 and SH 78.
According to Daugherty, bids for the construction of the freeway are being analyzed by county staff and will be brought to Commissioners for consideration in the near future.
