The Texas Department of Transportation is scheduled to start a 2.62 million dollar renovation project along 19th Street between University Avenue and Memphis Avenue starting March 1.
After years of collaborate design at Texas Tech University, they partnered with TxDOT and the City of Lubbock to create this five month project not only for beautification but to improve safety in that area as well.
“Not only to some areas of the roadway but we’re also going to be making improvements to the median, to the crosswalk area, and then we’re going to add a shared use path which will be for pedestrians as well as bicyclists,” Department of Transportation Dianah Ascencio said.
The project is facilitated through TxDOT’s Alternative Transporting Funding, as well as, shared costs through the State, City of Lubbock, and Texas Tech University.
“TxDOT has agreed to do all of the construction work everything that you’re going to see on all along the roadway, the stripping, some work on the actual roadway payment,” Ascencio said. “Then Texas Tech has agreed to provide the landscaping and the City of Lubbock has agreed to maintain the landscaping.”
“Once everything is ready for planting Texas Tech University Ground Maintenance Department and our teams will work on planting and preparing all the planter beds,” TTU Office of Facilities Michael Molina said.
Since major construction is planned for existing medians, traffic lanes both East and West will close for the duration of this project.
Contractor Allen Butler Construction, INC. of Ransom Canyon will start scheduling traffic control along 19th Street Wednesday. They said the speed limits will be lowered by 10 miles per hour during construction.
Ascencio said they hope to be completed with this project by early August.
