The bid to install a center turn lane on State Hwy. 37 north of Mineola has been awarded.

Baker and Company Construction of Tyler was awarded the bid for $4,058,408 by the Texas Dept. of Transportation on Jan. 6 and the project is expected to take 225 working days.

Baker submitted the lowest bid among eight companies.

The turn lane will be installed from where the current center lane ends just past Walmart to the north for 1.2 miles near Rose Hill Road.

Residents of the Tuscany Park subdivision on the west side of Hwy. 37 had petitioned the state for a lower speed limit and the turn lane following several traffic crashes and near-crashes where the residents have to slow to turn left while heading north.

The 55 mile-per-hour speed zone was extended farther north last year, past the Tuscany Park turn off.

The residents of Lake Brenda will also benefit from the extended turning lane.

Construction is expected to get underway in March.