BEAUMONT, Texas — Demolition of the Brooks Road overpass has begun and traffic is now being diverted in the area. The overpass is being demolished and rebuilt as a part of a Texas Department of Transportation expansion project along I-10 from Beaumont to Winnie.
Cherly Richards, the desk clerk at the nearby Gulf Coast RV Resort, says she's concerned about how the removal of the overpass will impact the RV park’s customers.
As one of the handful of businesses located along brooks roads, Richards says it'll be an adjustment for everyone.
"It was fine, I didn't see anything wrong with it, nothing wrong with it, we had huge RVs coming down it every day," Richards said of the old overpass. "It’s going to be an inconvenience for the people that are coming to stay here and also for us getting to work and everything."
The Department of transportation believes that expansion of I-10 and raising the height of the overpass will make for an easier commute for the thousands of drivers that use the interstate daily.
"It's also going to help with congestion. Right now, anytime we have an accident on this two-lane stretch in either direction, it can shut traffic down for hours," TxDOT spokesperson Sarah Dupree said.
The transportation department is planning to rebuild the Brooks Road overpass within a year and increase the elevation to 18 ½ feet, which is two feet higher than the old overpass.
Richards thinks a year is too long a wait.
"That's shocking, it shouldn't take that long. it seems like they could do it a lot quicker than that. But for now, we're having to put up with it and reroute everybody and do the best we can," she said.