TxDOT to Address Dust and Road Issues on Loop 230 in Smithville

By Kristen Meriwether, Publisher

While the Texas Department of Transportation believed the road construction on Loop 230 was done Monday morning, Smithville residents driving over the dusty mess that used to be our main thoroughfare do not agree. And our state and local representatives took it to TxDOT on Monday and Tuesday to get answers.

State Rep. Stan Gerdes, as well as Smithville City Council members Brandon Dunham and Mitch Jameson, walked with TxDOT engineers down Loop 230 to show them the loose gravel and the dust kicked up with each passing car.

According to Gerdes' Facebook post, “Even TxDOT’s own engineers admitted the obvious — the gravel mix they used didn’t lock in properly, and the type and amount of rock they spread has created a choking cloud of dust blanketing our town.”

Loop 230 is not maintained by the City of Smithville, but in a statement on Tuesday evening, the city said it shares the community’s frustration and is working to address the situation.

“TxDOT has confirmed that additional remediation efforts will take place to improve the condition of the roadway. Beginning immediately, crews will be sweeping and watering the roadway regularly, and throughout the weekend, to reduce dust and improve driving conditions,” the City of Smithville statement said. “In the coming days, TxDOT will not only wash the existing surface roadway, but it will also utilize pre-washed rock to reduce dust. Once that work is complete, the proposed plan is to apply an overcoat of emulsion designed to bind the rock more securely to the road surface, improving both safety and appearance.”

There could be some delay due to weather and the upcoming Veterans Day holiday on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

For the first two weeks of the project, residents endured the mess, passing it off as road construction that would pass. But on Halloween, as families began to fill the street for trick-or-treating, residents began speaking up on social media about the health hazard the excess dust was causing, and the damage it was causing to cars.

Dunham reached out to Gerdes over the weekend after learning the current conditions may be the finished product, and Gerdes began meeting with TxDOT on Monday.

We have asked TxDOT about the process used during construction, however, the only statement we’ve received is, “SMITHVILLE: TxDOT is actively addressing the conditions on SL 230 in Smithville. This is part of a routine paving project with cleanup nearing completion. We have crews sweeping and vacuuming up the rock and will continue to do so until all the loose rock is picked up. To help reduce dust, crews are also applying water to the surface. Additionally, our Area Office will continue to monitor the roadway moving forward.”

Smithville Texas News will continue to monitor the construction progress this week and next. Please email howdy@smithvilletexasnews.com with any news tips.