By Joana Karoshi | Staff Writer
The Texas Department of Transportation plans to transform part of BU 77 from a freeway into an urban boulevard, a change officials say will better reflect how people use the road today.
TxDOT presented the proposed changes Thursday at a public meeting for BU 77. The route connects I-35 to FM 434 — University Parks Drive — and Slate Loop 484. The project includes pavement and bridge rehabilitation, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings and bicycle accommodations.
The department also plans to connect SL 484 with SL 574 — South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Construction on BU 77 is expected to be completed in 2030, while work on SL 484 is expected to continue through 2033, according to TxDOT’s website.
Jake Smith, public information officer for the Waco District, said BU 77 originally served as a major route for interstate traffic. But, after the construction of I-35 and SL 340, he said the road no longer needs to function as a freeway.
“Once we transform it, what people can expect is a roadway that serves not only vehicular traffic but pedestrian and bicycle traffic as well,” Smith said.
The redesigned corridor will include a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. Smith said it is too early to determine which properties could be affected because that will depend on the project’s refined design.
The proposed changes could mean less emphasis on adding vehicle capacity — something Fort Worth freshman Cody Dunnam said would benefit drivers who frequently travel through Waco.
Dunnam uses I-35 “fairly frequently” when traveling to and from Waco. He said congestion and drivers’ tendency not to use the left lane as a passing lane are among his biggest frustrations.
“Adding a third lane would benefit a lot of people, not just in Waco, but being able to move in and out to other metroplexes easily,” Dunnam said. “Because right now it is very congested for drivers.”
Dunnam said he is not opposed to adding pedestrian infrastructure as long as it is implemented safely.
“I believe they can coexist easily while also increasing productivity on the road,” he said.
For TxDOT, however, the project’s goal is not simply to increase vehicle capacity. Smith said the redesign is intended to make the corridor safer while allowing different types of transportation to share the roadway.
“You are going to see safer roadways,” Smith said. “It is going to be a smoother ride; it is going to be a safer ride.”
