What we reported

Last August, Community Impact Newspaper reported on a $27 million construction project happening at Hwy. 90 and FM 359 in Richmond. The project involves building an overpass from Hwy. 90A to FM 359 over the Union Pacific Corp. railroad crossing.

The bridge is a necessity due to the fact that traffic volume will inevitability increase due to the growth the Richmond area has seen, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. By 2035, the number of vehicles per day on FM 359 is expected to reach 28,300; even more traffic is expected for Hwy. 90A, with 40,100 vehicles expected on the roadway per day by 2035, according to TxDOT.

While the goal of the project is to help with traffic congestion in the area, many business owners near and around the intersection have said the construction project has caused their respective businesses to take a financial hit. Local business owners still have to endure another year of construction.

The latest

Construction of the overpass was shut down during and after Hurricane Harvey in late August; work resumed Sept. 5. The estimated completion date for the project is still set for March 2019. Hwy. 90 eastbound onto FM 359 experienced a lane closure from Jan. 3 through Jan. 12 and should be open as of press time. The closure was in preparation of bridge beams that will be set in place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. the weekend of Jan. 26-29.

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of Top 5 stories to follow in 2018 here.