Exciting Changes Coming to College Station’s Bush-Wellborn Crossing
COLLEGE STATION – The neighborhood around the Bush-Wellborn Crossing is buzzing with excitement and a bit of concern! Last Thursday, residents gathered at the Lincoln Recreation Center for a town hall meeting hosted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) together with College Station city officials. The main topic? The highly anticipated construction project at the busy intersection of George Bush Drive and Wellborn Road.
This intersection has been a point of contention for many in the community. Did you know that it handles an astounding 60,000 vehicles each week during the academic semesters? That’s not all – it also accommodates over 280 Texas A&M buses, 20 trains, and around 700 pedestrians and cyclists daily! With more than 200 events hosted at Texas A&M each year, traffic congestion at this intersection is a serious issue that needs addressing.
A Look Back in Time
The project’s journey dates back as far as 1999, when the Texas Department of Transportation started evaluating ways to enhance traffic flow in the area. Fast forward to now — after receiving the much-needed funding of $103 million for construction last year, it seems that progress is finally set in motion. That’s a relief for many!
Debbie Albert of TTI kicked off the night with a presentation outlining the project timeline. She reassured attendees, “Hearing the residents’ input is absolutely crucial.” The design is set to reroute traffic with the construction estimated to begin in spring 2026. Yes, it’s a while away, but there’s so much to look forward to!
Seeking Community Feedback
The focus of the meeting was to gather feedback from residents living just south of George Bush Drive and east of Wellborn. Many folks, like Fadi Kalaouze, the founder of Aggieland Outfitters, shared their hopes for the project. He mentioned, “We know it’s going to happen, so we’re looking forward to getting it done quickly.”
The most pressing issue discussed was how to manage traffic during construction. Many attendees raised concerns about increasing congestion in the surrounding area, particularly the neighborhood southeast of the intersection. Matthew Chilek pointed out, “Even with the proposed TxDOT detours around the entire Southgate area, we’re still looking at an influx of cars coming through, which will be a real challenge.”
What to Expect from the Redesign
So what exactly can residents expect from this redesign? The Bush-Wellborn Crossing project will introduce a three-level intersection design. The railroad tracks will remain at ground level, while Wellborn Road will flow above it, crossing over a separate pedestrian pathway connecting all four directions, which is planned to be situated 15 feet below ground level! The intersection itself will dip down to about 35 feet, creating a much smoother traffic experience — and hopefully fewer accidents with trains.
And let’s not forget the environmental aspect: it’s estimated that around 330,000 cubic yards of dirt will be excavated! Just to put that into perspective, that’s enough to fill the lower bowl of Kyle Field.
What Comes Next?
If you’re eager to have your voice heard, there will be two more meetings for public input later this month at Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on October 22-23. Residents can also fill out a survey on the project’s website. Your feedback will play an essential role in shaping the final design and construction phases!
This project is sure to bring significant changes to the community, and while the path may be rocky during construction, most attendees seem optimistic about the long-term improvements on the horizon.
So, College Station, stay tuned! It’s certainly an exciting time for our roads, and who knows what the future holds.
