Four East Texas roadways getting a makeover

EAST TEXAS-The Texas Department of Transportation is putting the pedal to the metal to improve state roads. This made possible by bond money that will be used to widen and smooth some of our East Texas roads.

The almost $2 billion in bond money stems from the original $6 billion Texans approved when they voted for Proposition 14 in 2003.

"The details of the Proposition 14 bond is really exciting news especially for people here in East Texas," TXDOT spokesman, Larry Krantz, said.

We broke down the details of the four projects as follows:

Project one, $26 million will be used to widen part of Loop 281 in both directions to three lanes.

Project two, almost $10 million will be used to extend Loop 256 near Palestine from two to four lanes with a continuous left-turn lane.

Project three, State Highway 42 between Interstate 20 and US 80 in White Oak, will be getting shoulders and turn lanes.

And these improvements will not only help drivers, for some it will help their business. "Absolutely, it probably doubled in the past two years simply because of people moving in the area," local business owner, Larry Lumpkins, said.

Tyler's Loop 49 is the last project on the agenda. TXDOT plans to extend 49 all the way to Whitehouse.

Proposition 14 also called for the bonds to be repaid using state motor fuel tax.