Right-of-way acquisition for the proposed Highway 334 bridge expansion project will begin this fall, according to Texas Department of Transportation officials.

Two TXDOT officials updated members of the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce on the bridge expansion plans at their monthly luncheon July 9, 2015.

Department of Transportion Planning and Development Director Vernon Webb said an engineering plan for the expansion is under review by state officials, and right-of-way acquisition for the project should be completed by the winter of 2016. New construction would be to the south of Highway 334 where a small residential development exists.

One new house is under construction now in the residential development near the front of the property.

Webb said a property owner building a new retirement home in the area of right-of-way acquisition said she would not be concerned about the highway moving closer to the new home during a meeting with TXDOT officials.

Construction on the proposed project will begin when the project is fully funded, Webb said. He declined to estimate when that might be, characterizing such an answer as a "guess."

"The big issue obviously is finding the funding for it," Webb said. "I just don't know when the funding will be available."

Webb said the project could not be paid for by the highway bridge fund that covered the costs of the new bridge on Highway 198 connecting Gun Barrel City and Payne Springs because the Highway 334 bridge is not considered to be obsolete.

The Highway 334 bridge connecting Gun Barrel City to Seven Points is still sound, although its smaller size makes its inadequate for the amount of traffic passing over it daily, according to TXDOT officials.

Webb said two plans are still on the table. One plan would create a new taller bridge parallel to the old bridge at a cost of $25 million with the expectation that the older bridge would be replaced in later years with a taller one. The second plan would create to new twin bridges the same height to allow larger boats to pass under them at a cost of $40 million.

Any new bridge constructed will be arched in the middle high enough to allow boats to pass under.

TXDOT Tyler District Engineer Dennis Cooley said residents who want to provide input about the proposed project should contact Texas Department of Transportation Chair Jeff Austin.

At the beginning of the luncheon meeting Lowe's of Gun Barrel City received the Business of the Month award in recognition of its charitable contributions to the community in addition to the professional services and products it offers.

Pictured below are Lowe's Store Manager Ian Anderson, Pro Services Specialist Carrie Jones, Assistant Store Manager Megan Lindaman and chamber official Marty Mullins.