County road engineer outlines repairs and traffic-safety steps; TxDOT signage changes for Highway 87 noted

Brian Klinsick, Howard County road engineer, updated the court on planned and ongoing roadwork: reclamation on County Road 17 (about one mile north from the intersection with State Road 40) and planned repairs on a failed section of Highway 40 using caliche moved from active work sites. Traffic counts in multiple precincts are complete or underway and the county will produce an overall report at the end of the projects.

Klinsick described a Texas Department of Transportation request to install 'stop ahead' signage on every road approaching Highway 87 to address crash concerns; he warned that if the signage does not reduce crashes, TxDOT may remove direct crossovers and install limited crossover points, which would force some drivers to make U-turns and alter local access patterns. He also discussed a local intersection complaint (Boykin and Larry Tubb) and said stop-sign placement is constrained by eligibility and traffic warrants.

"We reclaimed last week," Klinsick said describing recent work on County Road 17, and he later told the commissioners, "If this does not rectify the crash information, then the single crossings ... will all be removed." The court expressed concern about possible effects on emergency response times and emphasized the goal of preserving as many access points as possible while reducing crashes.

Klinsick also noted equipment and fleet updates, a sign-crew staffing change and ongoing efforts to improve sign mounting and street-name signage in neighborhoods. No formal vote was required; the update was informational.