TxDOT Agrees to Permanent Repairs on Smithville's Loop 230 After Public Outcry

By Kristen Meriwether, Publisher

Updated Nov. 5 at 4:25 p.m. to include statement from City of Smithville.

After intense public outcry and pressure from local officials, the Texas Department of Transportation has agreed to make permanent pavement repairs to Loop 230 in Smithville over the next few days.

“Last night, I spoke directly with TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams to share the concerns our community has been facing here in my hometown of Smithville,” state Rep. Stan Gerdes said in a Facebook post. “Today, I met with TxDOT Regional Director Tucker Ferguson, and I’m pleased to report that TxDOT has taken full responsibility for its damage to Loop 230 and is fully committed to fixing it immediately.”

In a statement, TxDOT said work will begin on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 a.m., with crews working a continual 24-hour operation to make permanent repairs. 

“Work will start with edge milling along the inside lanes on the east end of Loop 230, followed by a hot mix asphalt overlay. Road tabs will be used temporarily until final striping can be completed,” a statement from the City of Smithville said. “During construction, lane closures will be in place, and drivers are encouraged to avoid Loop 230 whenever possible.” 

The Smithville Police Department is coordinating with Smithville ISD to ensure children can get to school safely and manage the traffic flow. 

“Residents should expect noise and vibration as crews work through the night,” the city statement said. “When finished, the new surface will exceed TxDOT’s 2028 Capital Improvement Plan standards—delivering a roadway that is safer, smoother, and longer-lasting than originally projected.”

The new road should make travel much easier for the influx of visitors expected for the Parade of Homes and various community events this weekend.

Three weeks ago TxDOT began tearing up Loop 230 for a planned resurfacing project.

“Over the last year, Loop 230 in Smithville was beginning to show significant signs of wear and tear,” the TxDOT statement said. “This preventive maintenance project was scheduled to preserve the roadway and improve safety along this heavily traveled corridor.”

The project did not go according to plan. The rocks TxDOT laid down on top of tar didn’t stick, and instead of a smooth new road, Loop 230 resembled a rural farm road.

Cars created a dust plume as they drove on the highway and kicked rocks into windshields. Cars and homes along the Loop have been covered in a film of dust. And residents living nearby have been dealing with the dusty haze.

Smithville city council member Brandon Dunham reached out to Gerdes over the weekend after learning the current conditions may be the finished product.

On Monday, Gerdes said he met with TxDOT Bastrop engineer Diane Schulze and Austin district engineer Tucker Ferguson to discuss the conditions of the road. Initially, dust remediation efforts were presented as solutions.

Those remediation efforts, which included wetting down the highway and sweeping up the rocks, were used on Tuesday. And while there was some improvement, residents were still not happy.

Gerdes continued to press TxDOT and, following a meeting on Wednesday, was able to secure not just a repair, but a full hot-mix asphalt repave of the Loop.

“This new repaving will result in a higher-quality road than what was originally planned for 2028 — meaning Smithville will now receive a better roadway years ahead of schedule,” Gerdes said on Facebook.

Many questions still remain, including how the road got signed off on as “complete” in that condition, what was the process used, and what communication was provided to the city of Smithville prior to the start of the project.

“In addition to this immediate repair effort, we remain committed to working closely with TxDOT to get to the bottom of what happened and to ensure accountability and transparency every step of the way,” Gerdes said. “Smithville residents deserve answers, and we will make sure this situation does not happen again.”