CHINA SPRING, TX — FM 1637, or the China Spring Highway, is in its final stretch of construction.
Starting in 2016, TxDOT planned to widen the two-lane highway into a four-lane and add a raised median in the middle of the two. The purpose of the construction was to create fewer accidents and a better flow of traffic.
More than 15,000 people drive along FM 1637 each day, so a safer way to travel was necessary.
Splitting into two phases, the first phase from FM 3051 (Steinbeck Bend Drive) to FM 2490 (Wortham Bend Road) is now a completed 4.3-mile project.
The next 2.1 miles from FM 2490 (Wortham Bend Drive) to FM 185 (North River Crossing) is now in the midst of construction.
"In an area that is growing tremendously, we needed to be able to accommodate the growth," said Ken Roberts, a TxDOT Public Information Officer.
During the first phase of construction, businesses around the area weren't too happy about it.
"People that live around here didn't even know that I was in this strip center, I had more walk-in traffic when they finished," said Steve McCraw, the Farmers Insurance business owner.
He even noticed the construction isn't meant for just the drivers, but for the pedestrians as well.
"They've done a phenomenal job building it," McCraw said. "Just putting in sidewalks so that people can walk now without getting in the street."
No stranger to the China Spring construction, Troy Mathis is a delivery driver for Marcos Pizza. He likes to see the improvements, but it took him a while to get used to the ongoing road work.
"When you go further down a little bit that way you miss a couple turns because you can't turn across it when they first started it, it was really difficult," Mathis said.
Construction workers will be out between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Phase two of FM 1637 is set to be completed between late 2019 or early 2020.
As always, TxDOT asks that drivers obey the temporarily posted speed limits and stay safe while traveling near construction zones.
For more information on the construction, visit the TxDOT website.
