State leaders turned out Wednesday for the announcement of a $6.4 million project on Parkway Drive (US 82) from MLK to Cherry Avenue. in East Lubbock.
Among those in attendance from the state legislature were Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, State Senator Charles Perry and State Representatives John Frullo and Dustin Burrows. Lubbock County Commissioner Lorenzo “Bubba” Sedeno was also there.
The group that helped to get this project together is Adult Division Helping Our Children, or AD-HOC, led by Minister Trent Cox.
“Once this comes forth, other projects will follow,” Cox said “You have to crawl before you can walk. I’m just so glad about this day.”
“What really makes this special for me is how grateful people are, just, they’re grateful,” Lt. Governor Patrick said. “Simple things, like a safe road so people don’t get killed on the highway, that ought to be, to the best of our ability, something we address everyday.”
The project will work to bring safety improvements to the road. Part of that work will include removing the frontage road on the south side of Parkway Drive. According to TxDOT, the frontage road on the north side will turn into culs-de-sac in order to give access to those who live on the north side of the road.
There will also be some other safety improvements made to the area, like upgrading the pedestrian crossings, adding sidewalks, and improving the traffic signal that’s located at Zenith Avenue.
Texas Department of Transportation spokesperson Dianah Ascencio said TxDOT has been working with AD-HOC for almost four years to improve safety in that area.
In February 2015, Ascencio said TxDOT held two public meetings to present plans for the project to the public.
There is no construction date set yet, but TxDOT said the hope is to begin in spring of this year.
