By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News/Scene In Town

A definitive change in the U.S. Highway 75 services roads flow of traffic will be set in place this coming Tuesday (weather permitting), February 7.

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials said that the yield signs at entrance and exit ramps along the US 75 frontage roads in the Van Alstyne area will be replaced with stop signs. Van Alstyne Mayor Jim Atchison said that this is TxDOT’s initial response for assistance in making the frontage roads safer for drivers.

At the December 10 City Council meeting, one item on its agenda was a public hearing regarding “changing the flow of traffic on US Highway 75 from two-way travel to one-way travel within the city limits.” Council members said that the individual comments, both for and against the proposed change, were enthusiastic, and that the Council is restricted by law from responding to comments made by the public during public hearings.

No decisions were made at that meeting. City officials have talked since with TxDOT.

As Atchison said, TxDOT has responded with this first change. He said, also, that the Council will hold a workshop on that same Tuesday, February 7, to look at the possibility/probability of any other changes. The Council is currently meeting at the Grayson College campus on West Van Alstyne Parkway and that agenda will soon be posted on the City’s Website, cityofvanalstyne.us

TxDOT crews will replace existing yield signs with stop signs on both sides of US 75 at each entrance ramp and exit ramp between Farmington/Blythe Road and County Line Road/Panther Parkway. Message boards will be placed at high-volume traffic ramps the week of Feb. 1 to alert travelers of this upcoming change, TxDOT.

TxDOT asks motorists traveling in this area to pay special attention to all barricades, traffic
controls, and signs; and to reduce their speed as they approach and travel through work zones. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phones, eating, drinking, or car audio or navigation systems.