Collin County's engineers want another look at where the Outer Loop should run between State Highway 121 and U.S. 380, and under a new schedule a preferred route for that stretch would not reach commissioners for a public hearing until late winter 2027.
A contract change on the county's agenda for its Nov. 2 Commissioners Court meeting would pay HDR Engineering $982,008.50 for more route and environmental work on Segment 5 of the Collin County Outer Loop. The added work would bring HDR's contract to $5,077,646.83.
Why the extra study
Two public meetings have already been held on route options for the segment. After the second one, the county received information identifying environmental constraints that need more evaluation, according to a memo from Assistant Engineering Director Tracy Homfeld. The memo does not describe the constraints.
As a result, HDR would evaluate more alignment options and hold another public meeting before recommending a final route. The county also wants HDR to prepare a Local Environmental Document, which the scope says would support the county's ability to buy right of way.
What the study covers
The scope describes Segment 5 as about 21 miles long, running from SH 121 to U.S. 380 on the east side of Farmersville. The study area reaches from SH 121 east to the Hunt County line, and from U.S. 380 north to the Fannin and Grayson county lines.
HDR would start from the two alternatives shown at the second public meeting, labeled Pink and Green, and could draw up to three modified versions. No new end-to-end routes would be developed, the scope says.
The environmental work includes archaeological and historical reviews, threatened and endangered species checks, hazardous materials screening and a water resources survey. Creeks named for possible field surveys include Sister Grove, Pilot Grove, Indian, Desert, Pot Rack, Red Oak and Elm creeks, among others.
Crews would need permission to enter private land, and the scope calls for the county to send right-of-entry letters to owners, with two attempts per property before it is marked access denied.
