Construction to begin on north F.M. 116 overpass

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

The Texas Department of Transportation announced on Friday morning that construction will begin on northbound and southbound overpasses for F.M. 116, where the roadway intersects with State Highway 9 on the north side of Copperas Cove.

Jake Smith, public information officer for TxDOT’s Waco District, said that crews will begin working on Tuesday, March 1.

Two overpasses will be constructed that will allow traffic to travel over State Highway 9 with a  grade separation. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2025.

Crews will also be working on the intersection of F.M. 116 and State Highway 9, adding curbs and two new U-turns.

“Construction will improve safety and mobility in the project area,” said Smith.

Smith said that the initial phase of the overpass project “will have minimal impact to traffic as crews work primarily off the roadways.”

However, during the course of construction, there will be closures which will impact traffic. Smith said that TxDOT will release regular updates to include any announcements of “impactful” closures of lanes.  

The contractor for the project is Big Creek Construction, LTD., and the project cost is approximately $11 million, with a scheduled completion date of early 2025.

State Highway 9 opened in February 2014. In the eight years following that opening, the intersection of SH-9 and F.M. 116 has been the site of numerous accidents and at least one traffic fatality, even after the installation of a larger stop sign at the west side of SH-9, and the installation of traffic lights in December 2016.