<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1PPqKS_1CcdIxnC00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1PPqKS_1CcdIxnC00" width="405" height="500" ><figcaption>Director of Transportation Planning and Development for TxDOT Doug Moreno takes a deep dive into the details of highway aesthetics for City Council. (Photo by Jason May)</figcaption></figure>The Brenham City Council received an exclusive look into the visual and structural future of Washington County’s most critical transportation artery during a recent work session.Doug Moreno, the Director of Transportation Planning and Development for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Bryan District, presented the updated design aesthetics and landscaping proposals for the massive $361 million US 290 at State Highway 36 interchange project.Spanning just over three miles, from Highway 389 to Windy Acres Road, the project aims to modernize the corridor through a specialized design-build contract. TxDOT targets a contract award in June 2028, with construction dirt expected to move in early 2029 and ultimate project completion slated for early 2032.To prevent the major infrastructure from looking like a standard freeway design, TxDOT’s design team collaborated with city staff to cultivate a customized aesthetic theme that mirrors Brenham’s local character."When we looked at what was already in the community and the current buildings on here, a very similar architectural style kind of came evident. So our design team said, 'Let's see something like that together.'"This theme will be heavily integrated into the bridge structures and retaining walls. Instead of plain concrete, columns will feature specialized brick framing patterns engineered to echo the masonry of the surrounding community.Furthermore, TxDOT plans to swap out standard Texas bridge star emblems for a hyper-local touch: Brenham’s iconic ice cream cone branding logo. Because intricate, multi-colored paint works on concrete chips off over time, Moreno noted the branding will likely lean monochromatic."It may end up being vanilla,. But this is something that the city is interested in, and they want to get that final design together," Moreno added regarding the ice cream logo aesthetics.Beyond aesthetic updates, Moreno provided a structural overview of the 3-mile overhaul. The new setup features a long direct-connector bridge that allows US 290 traffic to free-flow seamlessly from the south to the west, replacing the outdated layout. Existing frontage roads will also be completely converted to one-way operations.A distinct engineering detail highlights the inclusion of significantly wider highway shoulders than are standard for a typical freeway configuration."One thing that is different here is that we are providing wider shoulders than typical, but this route is still on the statewide hurricane evacuation route, and has the potential to switch to contraflow wherever needed," Moreno stated. "But in order to avoid that, one way to avoid that is we added wider shoulders on both inside and outside, and so we can add more traffic and make those travel lanes, which could lead to an emergency situation, such as the hurricane and evacuation."Additionally, the project expands further west than initially scoped to make the intersection at Berlin Road safer. While the current budget does not allow for a full overpass bridge there, TxDOT is separating the roadbeds and building a wide center median. This layout allows crossing motorists to navigate traffic one direction at a time rather than trying to cross all five lanes of US 290 at once. Modern "shared-use paths", wider concrete sidewalks designed for pedestrians, bicycles and electric scooters, also will run along the frontage roads under federal assessment guidelines.Moreno laid out a clear "base" landscaping blueprint that TxDOT will completely fund, install and maintain as part of its standard operations. The standard layout incorporates a 30-foot grass zone from the edge of the pavement, followed by a 30-foot native wildflower mix. Within that combined 60-foot zone, TxDOT will plant approximately 75 large native trees spaced 100 feet apart, providing initial irrigation for about a year to establish them before transitioning to standard three-times-per-year mowing.However, the agency gave Brenham officials two optional enhancement concepts if the city wishes to financially invest in and maintain a higher aesthetic standard.The first enhancement is the Intersection Plantings Concept. This option covers up to 10 localized planting areas or flower beds at main intersections, utilizing smaller trees, bushes, flowers, or landscape boulders. The estimated installation cost paid to TxDOT would be $50,000, and the city would assume responsibility for ongoing, quarterly maintenance and irrigation.The second enhancement is the Added Tree Concept, which maximizes greenery along the corridor. This plan inserts 235 supplemental trees nested between TxDOT's standard plantings, reducing the spacing to 30-foot offsets. The estimated installation cost paid to TxDOT would be $100,000, and it would require the city to handle continued irrigation and trimming cycles.Finally, Moreno noted that if the city opts for the basic TxDOT plan, local crews can still sign a landscape maintenance agreement to perform additional, more frequent mowing or upkeep on the right-of-way if desired.Moreno emphasized that the city does not have to make immediate commitments, as right-of-way acquisitions will continue through December 2027.“We're always open to making silence if we're improving the way the aesthetics and things ignore the landscape viewer layers, subsidy at any time," he said.City council members and staff will continue reviewing the structural aesthetics and landscaping numbers alongside local framework planning before locking in formal funding and maintenance agreements with TxDOT.</div></body>

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The Brenham City Council received an exclusive look into the visual and structural future of Washington County’s most critical transportation artery during a recent work session. Doug Moreno, the Director of Transportation Planning and Development for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Bryan District, presented the updated design aesthetics...

Comprehensive update on TxDOT Interchange project given to council

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The Brenham City Council received an exclusive look into the visual and structural future of Washington County’s most critical transportation artery during

Comprehensive update on TxDOT Interchange project given to council

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