Friday, September 27, 2024
With the finish line finally in sight for the Cresson bypass, many residents are excited about the change as they look forward to quicker travel times and a smoother commute overall.
But it won’t be long before this newly built roadway will represent more than just improved traffic flow; soon, it will carry the name and legacy of a devoted community leader.
In honor of the late William “Bob” Cornett, the Hood County Commissioners Court unanimously adopted a resolution to name the U.S. Highway 377 Cresson Relief Route the “Bob Cornett Parkway” during a regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 24.
Cornett, who served as the Cresson mayor from 2003 to 2020, passed away Dec. 31, 2023. He was one of the first council members to serve the city of Cresson following the city’s incorporation as a municipality in 2000. He also served as assistant fire chief at the Cresson Volunteer Fire Department, volunteering a total of 35 years with the department.
Throughout his decades of dedicated service, Cornett actively promoted growth in Cresson and collaborated with state and regional agencies to advance the plans for the Cresson Bypass Project.
The Cresson City Council unanimously passed its own resolution June 11, and asked for the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Legislature, the Hood County Commissioners Court and the Johnson County Commissioners Court to also agree to designate the Cresson Bypass as the “Bob Cornett Parkway.”
“We want to do as much as we can to help our neighbors out,” Precinct 4 Commissioner Dave Eagle said during Tuesday’s meeting. “And the city of Cresson has unanimously voted to name the Cresson Bypass after a former mayor.”
According to Cresson Mayor Ron Becker, now that Hood County Commissioners Court has passed the resolution, Sen. Brian Birdwell will present it in the upcoming legislative session for approval. He noted that the Johnson County Commissioners Court had already passed a resolution the day before, as part of the bypass is located in Johnson County.
Becker also pointed out that the city of Cresson will be responsible for any signage costs, removing any ambiguity about responsibilities for Hood or Johnson County.
"I appreciate Commissioner Eagle concurring with what we thought was probably the best thing to do and for carrying this,” Becker said. “I think many of you knew Bob. His family continues to be involved in various aspects of public service — both with Cresson and wider than that — and we think this is the right thing to be doing for this halfway-open bypass.”
In November 2019, TxDOT commenced construction on a three-mile relief route west of Cresson, officially designated as the U.S. Highway 377 Cresson Relief Route. Commonly referred to as the “Cresson Bypass,” this four-lane divided highway is designed to ease traffic congestion along U.S. 377. The route begins one mile south of the intersection with State Highway 171 and extends one mile north of the same intersection.
While the southbound lanes of the Cresson Bypass officially opened July 12, the overall completion date for the project is currently anticipated to be late 2025 — although there is some speculation that it might be finished sooner.
Becker told the Hood County News he was told at a recent TxDOT meeting that with incentives now in place for the contractor, TxDOT officials expect eastbound-northbound traffic to be flowing on the new road by Thanksgiving of this year.
“We all heard that,” he said. “However, I’m not aware that TxDOT has ever put a possible November 2024 completion date in writing.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Hood County Judge Ron Massingill humorously recounted that meeting, adding that when an official mentioned that the northern section of the bypass would be open by Thanksgiving, Massingill jokingly asked which Thanksgiving.
Becker noted that recent signs on the Johnson County side indicate plans to shift northbound traffic onto the new section of the bypass, which were originally set for Sept. 24, but were then postponed to Sept. 25.
He remarked that the existing southbound and westbound sections have been functioning well since their July opening, mentioning that emergency calls on the new roadway have been unrelated to traffic issues.
"I'm hopeful that the eastbound-northbound side, when it gets going, is well received and smooth as it seems like the other one's been,” Becker said.
Following discussion, Eagle proposed a motion to adopt the resolution, and Hood County Judge Ron Massingill seconded the motion.
“I knew Bob very well,” Massingill said, as he reflected on their shared leadership experiences. “He's got a bunch of children and grandchildren that still do everything for the fire department. Of course, everybody in Cresson is somehow doing something for the volunteer fire department out there, because it's a great deal.”
The motion to rename the Cresson Bypass to the “Bob Cornett Parkway” passed unanimously, 4:0. Precinct 3 Commissioner Jack Wilson was absent from the meeting.
