Hurdles have arisen for a $27.3 million project to improve FM 1960 in the Willowbrook area after construction began almost one year ago, according to an Aug. 20 email from Bambi Hall, a public information officer with the Texas Department of Transportation.

Current situation

Construction of the FM 1960 widening project began in December. No portions of the project are finished, as utility adjustments have been an obstacle for the project, Hall said via the email.

“TxDOT and the contractor are working to mitigate and minimize the impacts due to the ongoing adjustment of utilities,” Hall said.

As previously reported by Community Impact, the project will:

• Add a through lane east- and westbound on FM 1960 from the Willowbrook Mall center entrance to Cutten Road
• Include new pavement, continuous sidewalks, traffic signals and drainage improvements
• Take about 29 months to complete

In case you missed it

Design work first began on the project in 2006, and it was delayed multiple times due to utility conflicts, right-of-way acquisitions and railroad requisites required for the project, as previously reported.

Federal and state dollars make up 80% and 20%, respectively, of the project’s funding.

What else?

Closures should be expected throughout the project, and motorists are asked to drive carefully through work zones, Hall said.