FM 156 to get facelift

Published Friday, April 27, 2012
By Mary Wendell

Farm Road 156 through Justin is going to get an estimated $27 million facelift, with construction scheduled for 2014. Right-of-way acquisition could start in the spring of 2013.

The project will include not only expansion of the north-south highway through the eastern part of town, but a slight shift in the roadway.

Currently the highway has only one lane in each direction. The new plan calls for two lanes in each direction, separated by a median, with turn lanes, multi-use outside lanes, curb and gutter and landscaping.

Isaac Linton, assistant director for the Economic Development Corporation, thinks a few of the features will be really great for the city.

“The cool thing for us is that there will be double header parking and 26 feet of ‘pedestrian arcade’ or sidewalks,” Linton said.

The sidewalks and parking will be between 1st Street and 6th Street and will allow a safe area for shoppers to park and stroll from business to business.

The 156 Update is scheduled to break ground sometime in 2013. The project will stretch 4.2 miles from just north of town to Texas 114 south of town.

Schematics of the project are displayed at the EDC office at 117 West 4th Street.