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TxDOT is currently in the middle of a multi-year effort to widen U.S. 290 from the 610 Loop to the Waller County line.
But one of the contractors, The Woodlands-based Tradeco Infraestructura, was held in default. TxDOT says it happened after Tradeco delayed work on a three-mile segment between West Little York and Pinemont. The cost of that segment is about $153 million.
TxDOT’s Karen Othon expects it’ll be another three months before they can restart that work.
“Right now TxDOT is working with the surety company, and the surety company will be bringing another contractor on board to resume work on the U.S. 290 project,” Othon explains.
And Othon says the new contractor will be put on an expedited schedule.
“There is nothing happening in that section right now, so it will be a little bit of a challenge in the beginning. But we have confidence we’re going to be able to pick right up and continue on with the work,” Othon says.
Despite the delay, TxDOT says it still expects to have all lanes of 290 open by the end of 2017.