Clarence Dougherty, Director of Engineering, briefed the court on the development and near completion of Outer Loop Segment 3, a nearly 9-mile stretch of two-lane continuously reinforced concrete service road between Custer Road and U.S. 75 that the county plans to open to traffic on Friday.

Dougherty said the project includes two long bridges—over Honey Creek and the East Fork of the Trinity River—and used about 155,000 square yards of continuously reinforced concrete pavement. Construction began in February 2024; the contract projected completion in March 2026, but the county is scheduled to open the roadway in late November 2025. Dougherty reported a construction cost of $62,700,000 funded from the 2018 bond program.

The segment is currently a two-way, two-lane facility aligned so it can become the westbound service road in a future full freeway conversion. Staff described phasing that builds service roads first, then the opposing service road, and later the main lanes and ramps as traffic warrants. Dougherty warned that drivers have already been moving barricades and using the roadway before the official opening; staff said they will remove barricades on Friday and asked the public to use the roadway safely.

The court congratulated the project team and asked staff to coordinate a media announcement and photo opportunities.