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For Lufkin residents tired of fighting orange cones on U.S. Highway 59 and Loop 287, the Texas Department of Transportation says a completion date is getting closer.

Representatives from local businesses met for the monthly Power Networking Breakfast at the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce office Friday morning to get an update on the construction and to lob a few questions at the engineers on the project.

TxDOT Engineer David Collmorgen said the Tulane bridge, which is basically finished, won't be opened until the northbound traffic can be moved off the frontage road, which should happen in the next few months.

This part of the project has been a major complaint from drivers and retailers in the area.

"Things are progressing," Collmorgen said. "By the end of April we should be doing landscaping and some painting. We are eight months ahead of schedule."

Collmorgen told the group the 38 cent national and state road fuel tax hasn't seen a increase since 1991 and road construction will suffer in the next few years.

"This is the worst I've ever seen it (when it comes to funds)," Collmorgen said. "It's pretty bad. For those of you who don't like to drive through traffic, there won't be much of it."

Other projects are being put on hold because of a lack of funding, even those that Collmorgen considers dangerous intersections like FM 2021 in Redland and College Drive at Highway 59.

"We're having to compete statewide," Collmorgen said. "The most dangerous intersections in the state are going to be done first. I'm looking at a list that goes through 2020 and we're not on there. We just don't have the funds for it."

Employees in the local TxDOT office won't be laid off despite fewer projects, according to Collmorgen.

"We saw this coming," Collmorgen said. "People who retired, we didn't fill their spots. My inspectors and lab guys are going to be working for maintenance."

There are a few projects coming that are funded and should help keep workers afloat, like a new road, which will include five bridges, out Highway 94 heading toward Groveton.

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