Working around ‘Big 6’ From the cover
The Big 6 Construction on Hwy. 6 will include several changes along the corridor aimed at helping to better deal with growing tra c counts in the area.
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What you need to know
190
Hwy. 21 • North and south turnarounds
• Road widening • New turn lanes
The roughly $670 million Big 6 project, which will expand and add to the State Hwy. 6 corridor that runs through Bryan and College Station, will take several years to complete. Once done, it will both make up for past growth and pave the way for the area’s future, local and state o cials said. However, the project, which is being carried out by the Texas Department of Transportation, will be under construction until the early 2030s. In the meantime, questions remain about how it will a ect growing tra c counts in the area and the local economy—particularly for businesses that operate along the corridor. Despite some concerns, o cials from across Aggieland said the potential impact of the construction isn’t yet known. Given the timeline of the project—along with plans made by contractor Fluor Heavy Civil—o cials said the goal is for the work to be as unobtrusive as possible around businesses and local events, such as Texas A&M University football games. Meanwhile, tra c patterns around the cities are likely to change, as some streets will be busier than usual as locals seek out other thoroughfares to get around construction, said Doug Bramwell, chair of the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce’s transportation committee.
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21
W. WILLIAM J. BRYAN PKWY.
Briarcrest Drive • North and south turnarounds
• Road widening • New turn lanes
William J. Bryan Parkway • North and south turnarounds
• Bridge widening • New turn lanes
UNIVERSITY DR.
BRIARCREST DR.
New Harvey Road southbound exit and bridge Harvey Road
University Drive • North and south turnarounds
• Road widening • New turn lanes
N V I L L E
B O
• Road widening • New turn lanes
HARVEY RD.
Southwest Parkway • North and south turnarounds • New turn lanes
30
6B
SOUTHWEST PKWY.
New path to Texas Avenue
Cost breakdown
$190M: Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization $480M: State funding
Total $670M
Barron Road • New turn lanes
© GOOGLE EARTH PRO SOURCE: TEXAS DEPARTMENT
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OF TRANSPORTATION COMMUNITY IMPACT
Why it matters
The impact
Welch said the rst phase of the project will cause the most disruption to businesses. During that time, o cials are working to keep businesses accessible while also distributing yers to keep owners aware of the ongoing closures and work. Michael Lair, who owns the College Station-based Stella Southern Cafe, said he noticed construction caused part of the road to be reduced from two lanes to one. He said it started to make him concerned. “If they shut down our access road, we’re screwed,” he said. Meanwhile, at Prosperity Bank on Rock Prairie Road, President Jamie Lander said previous construction has a ected the business. But that has yet to happen with the current project. Bramwell said the biggest issue businesses are running into right now is students having left for the summer. As work progresses— particularly on overpasses throughout the corridor—he expects more of a pinch.
the area has experienced in recent years—in both population and tra c patterns. “The whole reason why we’re building and expanding is because we know that there’s growth coming. … [The project] will be able to better maintain tra c throughout the city,” TxDOT spokesperson Kendra Welch said.
O cials told Community Impact the need for the expansion has been long-standing. Dan Rudge, executive director of the Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Planning Organization, said his orga- nization set aside a few years’ worth of funding to help secure additional state funds for the project. That need stems from the signi cant growth
Tra c counts from 2010 24 at Hwy. 6 and Rock Prairie Road
Population growth in Brazos County, College Station and Bryan, 2014 24
2014 2019 2024
100K
80K
60K
40K
20K
0
2010
2017
2024
Brazos County
College Station
Bryan
SOURCES: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION., U.S. CENSUS BUREAU COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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