TxDOT Plans 28-Mile US 281 Expansion Adding Four Lanes and a Median

TxDOT Brownwood District plans to widen US 281 between US 183 in Lampasas and US 84 in Evant, a roughly 28-mile stretch that serves as a key north-south route on the National Highway System and the TxDOT Freight Network. The project would add two travel lanes for a total of four lanes and separate the new lanes from the existing road with a grassy median, aiming to improve safety, mobility, and freight movement for Coryell County residents and businesses.

The improvements go beyond lane additions. TxDOT has identified measures including guard rail upgrades, sloped end treatments for culverts, and widened shoulders. Crossovers will be added along the corridor to facilitate access to both sides of the highway, though exact crossover locations are to be determined. The project will require additional right of way adjacent to the existing corridor, and displacements have been identified where applicable.

The schedule posted by TxDOT shows the schematic phase began in winter 2023 and lists environmental clearance in 2026. Design work will be completed in phases: construction plans are to be finalized in fall 2027 for the Evant to Adamsville segment and in fall 2029 for the Lampasas to Adamsville segment. TxDOT plans to award a construction contract for Evant to Adamsville in 2028, with construction set to begin summer 2028. The Lampasas to Adamsville contract award is scheduled for 2030, with construction beginning summer 2030.

Local impact will be broad. US 281 is used daily by commuters, local travelers, and trucking industries, and it functions as an alternative to I-35. The added lanes and median should reduce congestion during peak travel and lower the risk of head-on collisions, while improved shoulders and guard rails will aid emergency response and heavy vehicles. Property owners adjacent to the corridor face potential right-of-way acquisition and possible displacement, and affected residents can expect direct contact from TxDOT as plans advance.

TxDOT has emphasized public engagement throughout the study, holding virtual and in-person open houses and posting opportunities for comment on the project page. Maps, right-of-way documents, and contact information for the Brownwood District are available on that page for residents who want details or need to review potential impacts to specific parcels.

For Coryell County drivers, truck operators, and business owners, the project promises long-term relief from congestion and clearer freight access, but it also brings an extended period of planning, outreach, and later construction. Residents should monitor the TxDOT Brownwood District project page for environmental findings, final plans, and upcoming public meetings as the timeline moves toward construction in 2028 and 2030.