With the latest public meeting completed, Collin County’s study of two southeastern segments of the proposed Outer Loop is nearing completion, moving the project closer to finalizing its schematic design and environmental review before right-of-way acquisition can begin.

The county held a public meeting Oct. 27 at Leland Edge Middle School in Nevada and made a virtual presentation available online for the Collin County Outer Loop-Southeast project.

The project covers Segments 2 and 4, extending approximately 14 miles from County Road 656 northeast of Farmersville to the Collin-Rockwall County line northwest of Royse City.

The project team is finalizing the schematic design and Local Environmental Document for the preferred alignment. The environmental document will then go to Collin County Commissioners Court for consideration and final approval.

The study, which began in summer 2024, is expected to conclude in late 2026 or early 2027.

The county has identified an updated preferred route based on the previous Technically Preferred Alignment, established through studies completed in 2009 for Segment 2, from U.S. 380 to FM 6, and in 2010 for Segment 4, from FM 6 to the Rockwall County line.

The latest study revisited that route to account for development and other constraints that have emerged since the earlier studies.

After evaluating several variations and considering public and stakeholder input, the county selected the Pink Alignment, which includes a western shift through the middle portion of the study area.

Although a preferred alignment has been identified, its precise location and property requirements could change as engineering continues. The proposed freeway would require a right of way approximately 500 feet wide, and the alignment could shift slightly before the schematic design is completed.

Engineers will determine preliminary lane configurations, ramp locations, interchange designs, drainage requirements and the amount of land needed for the project.

The Local Environmental Document will examine potential effects on residences, businesses, community facilities and archaeological, historical, cultural and biological resources.

Collin County is working with the North Central Texas Council of Governments on the environmental review and coordinating with local governments and other agencies.

Once Commissioners Court approves the environmental document, the county plans to move into final detailed design and begin acquiring property needed for the corridor. Right-of-way acquisition is expected to take several years.

The county intends to acquire enough right of way for the ultimate freeway rather than only the land needed for the first construction phase. This would protect the corridor from additional development as the roadway is built over time.

No construction date has been set for the full freeway, which will depend on funding and traffic demand.

The current plan calls for construction in phases, beginning with one two-lane frontage road carrying traffic in both directions once funding is secured. Both frontage roads could be built simultaneously if traffic needs and funding justify doing so.

Officials have not determined which frontage road would be built first. Freeway main lanes in the center of the corridor would be added later as population, development and traffic demand increase and funding becomes available.

Current plans call for frontage roads designed for 45 mph and freeway main lanes for 70 mph, although those design speeds could change as engineering progresses.

Drainage plans call for runoff to be directed away from nearby neighborhoods and the roadway through engineered grassy ditches or channels and appropriately sized culverts.

Decisions about roadway lighting, including the size and spacing of lights, have not been made.

The 14-mile project would eventually become part of a much larger transportation corridor. The proposed Collin County Outer Loop would extend approximately 55 miles from the Denton County line through areas including Celina, Weston, Anna, Melissa, Farmersville, Josephine and Royse City.

It would connect with a proposed regional outer-loop system extending through Denton, Collin, Rockwall and Kaufman counties and potentially Ellis County.

Collin County also has separate projects underway to advance planning and design for Segments 1 and 5 of the Outer Loop and is studying the feasibility of another north-south freeway between Princeton and State Highway 121.

Residents and property owners can follow the project and view updated alignment maps at CCOL-SE.com. Maps will be updated as the project progresses and right-of-way requirements become more precise.

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