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Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies before a House panel on Sept. 25, 2019. In an NPR interview, she says the nation has more work to do to get ready for a future pandemic. // Getty Images, Win McNamee

Updated June 4, 2021 at 1:04 PM ET

The United States was unprepared for the coronavirus, the response "wasn't a good performance," and there's still "a lot of work to do" to get ready for the next pandemic when it comes. That's the assessment of Dr. Anne Schuchat, the No. 2 official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who is retiring this summer after 33 years at the agency.

"This was a really complex, systemwide assault," she says in an interview on Morning Edition. "But another threat tomorrow, we're not where we need to be. We're still battling this one. And we have a lot of work to do to get better prepared for the next one. But I think there's political will that might have been missing before."

When she's asked about the political pressure she faced under former President Donald Trump, Schuchat declines to get into details.

"I would say that my work was mainly focused on directing our response to support state, local, public health, clinical partners, community groups," she says. "The political side of things, I was not after a certain point, I wasn't doing."

Schuchat also says she supports further investigations into the origins of the pandemic. "There's a lot we really do need to know here," she says. "So understanding where this came from and how it spread so easily, I think is important."

Schuchat does not quite have the public profile of Dr. Anthony Fauci, but her work as a disease detective tracing outbreaks is a part of American popular culture. Kate Winslet's character in the movie Contagion was modeled in part on Schuchat. Schuchat's career as a doctor began in the 1980s in New York City, which was a challenging time and place.

"One out of five of my patients had AIDS and they were really sick," she says. "Many of them didn't make it. You know, people came in with shortness of breath and were intubated very soon after and got a diagnosis that they didn't know they had, which at the time was essentially a death sentence."

She emerged from that time as an internist looking for something new.

As she finished her residency, she remembered hearing about the Epidemic Intelligence Service, the CDC's disease detective program.

She thought: "Maybe that would be a fun thing to do. Maybe just spending two years learning how to investigate outbreaks would be interesting and a little less intense than what I had just been through before I spend my life in practice."

But instead of returning to a medical practice, she stayed with the CDC. "I just fell in love with what we do, how we do it, the people that we work with and the impact that we can have," Schuchat says.

Below are highlights of the interview edited for length and clarity.

Looking back, did the nature of COVID-19 make it inevitable that it would be as deadly as it has proven to be?

This virus is really difficult. I think that a severe toll was going to happen, but we have seen such variation in countries and in communities' ability to counter it. And so I wish that we had not had as much loss of life and ongoing loss of life as we've had around the world. But this virus was going to be difficult under the best circumstances of response. And of course, we've had very variable response to this.

I'd like to ask about something that was commonly commented on at the height of the pandemic. People would look at a country like South Korea, where testing and tracing seemed much more effective and people were much more aggressive and successful in containing the disease. Was that ever possible in the United States?

We were not ready for that, OK. There are many things that our colleagues in Korea did that allowed them to have a very effective initial response. Our public-private smorgasbord of clinical laboratories and testing, our regulatory environment for how new lab tests can be rolled out, the public health capacity [being] very weak in terms of ability to get the contact tracing done. You know, obviously, we had problems with our test, and the academics and others who had tests couldn't use them until FDA changed their enforcement discretion.

There were just many things that delayed us. That said, there was lots of great work in many communities. But I think as a nation, it wasn't a good performance.

If it were to happen again next year, five years from now, which is plausible, would we be ready then?

We have a lot of work to do. So I think I am really encouraged by the investments and the seriousness that we're seeing in the administration, in the agencies, in the communities. You know, this has been really bad and I just hope people continue to feel that commitment to do better.

Just the public health piece: We have a lot of work to do in terms of the workforce, the data, the laboratory, the community outreach. Our health care system was overwhelmed in many places. The supply chain is very interdependent internationally. This was a really complex, systemwide assault.

But another threat tomorrow, we're not where we need to be. We're still battling this one. And we have a lot of work to do to get better prepared for the next one. But I think there's political will that might have been missing before.

As a disease detective, with the experience that you have, what have you thought about as people have raised more questions about the origins of the virus?

I want all the questions to be answered. There's so much we need to learn about this virus and this pandemic so that we do better next time and prevent where we can. ... Sometimes scientists have questions because they're kind of curious, and more is better. But I think there's a lot we really do need to know here. So understanding where this came from and how it spread so easily I think is important.

As you step away, how seriously do you take the possibility that this virus may have in some form originated in a lab in China?

We need to do the investigations. I think they're important.

You don't rule it out.

I don't think we have all the answers that we need, and so I support the idea of additional investigations and, you know, getting to the bottom of that.

Here is the original post:
The CDC's No. 2 Official Says The US Isn't Ready For Another Pandemic | NPR - Houston Public Media

Written by Nandni Mahajan, Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi | June 6, 2021 5:23:28 pm

On June 6, Mexico will vote to elect deputies to its 500-seat lower house of Congress, governors in 15 states, and hundreds of mayors and local legislators more than 20,000 positions in all.

This electoral cycle has been one of the most violent in Mexico since 2000, with 89 political assassinations, over a hundred casualties, 782 acts of aggression, and an exponential rise in crime since September 2020, according to figures provided by Mexican consulting firm Etellekt.

Elections in Mexico have always been tainted by political violence the 2018 election recorded over 130 deaths of politicians and candidates along with reports of hundreds of casualties and crimes. Etellekt reported that criminal aggression in the 2021 round of elections is 64 per cent higher than recorded in 2018.

The perpetrators of this violence are Mexicos organised crime syndicates and drug cartels, who want to gain control over municipal governments, local economies and populations to dominate drug-trafficking routes and criminal activities in their territories.

In this political tussle, some politicians reject organised crime, while others seek support from gangs for their money and manpower. On one hand, political hopefuls have dropped out of races due to threat to their lives, on the other, criminal leaders have publicly declared support for some politicians.

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Who are the victims?

Majority of the victims are political hopefuls contesting for mayoral and local-level seats, which places them in a vulnerable position as crime groups seek to gain authority at the local level to increase territorial control.

In March alone, one politician was assassinated per day, many have been kidnapped, while some have even lost family members in these attacks.

Criminal organisations are more likely to attack and threaten politicians unprotected by the police or military. Also, politicians with grassroot campaigns to weed out crimes from their municipalities are at a much greater risk of threats. As many as 75 per cent of the attacks were against opposition politicians in areas where they were contesting.

Criminal violence is also used in retaliation against politicians/public servants who did not aid criminal gangs. Over 60 candidates for mayoral posts have withdrawn from campaigns due to threats and campaigning has been suspended in many areas due to rise in violence.

How and why are criminal gangs dominating the elections?

According to government estimates, nearly 200 criminal gangs operate in Mexico. These groups are highly sophisticated, organised, well-funded and have infiltrated every level of the Mexican society, including public institutions.

Drug cartels have now diversified into new criminal activities. According to Wall Street Journal, apart from drug trafficking, these groups smuggle migrants into the US, sell black-market gasoline, and extort money and resources from local businesses. Once in control of local governments, these gangs also take money meant for public works.

Many smaller groups are now viciously competing to control local areas by intimidating and killing off politicians, with these actions posing a direct threat to Mexicos young democracy.

Falko Ernst, a senior Mexico analyst for the International Crisis Group, told the Wall Street Journal, That hyper-competition has put government officials and candidates in greater danger.

Gema Kolppe-Santamaia, another Mexican crime investigator at Loyola University Chicago, told The Guardian, The point of gaining control over the next mayor is to assure that this mayor guarantees access to two prize resources: public money and the police.

Where are public institutions in all of this?

Mexicos judicial and policing systems are infamous for corruption and high impunity rates. In 2019, only 0.3 per cent of the recorded crimes saw prosecutors filing charges and the criminals being brought to trial in front of a judicial body.

In this election cycle, Mexican authorities have logged 398 attacks/threats on candidates, most of which are likely to remain unsolved.

Falko Ernst also told The Guardian, Criminal groups have learned their lesson over the past few years that no matter what they do including killing candidates or attacking public institutions there are no consequences. He further said that Mexican judicial institutions play no role in solving crime and prosecuting criminals.

While 150 candidates have received protection from the government, it nearly isnt enough. Some candidates who have been attacked have accused the national guard and police of not protecting them.

Mexicos President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has accused the media of sensationalising the assassinations and crimes to make the government look bad. He also declared that there is peace and tranquility throughout Mexico, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Analysts have said this wave of political aggression can be blamed on the Presidents security policy of eliminating what he calls the economic roots of violence by providing jobs for poor youth, instead of taking head-on action and bringing in the military and police to confront the countrys powerful cartels.

The government has no policy to contain these criminal organisations, Guillermo Valdes, a former head of Mexicos intelligence agency, told Wall Street Journal.

As reported by Mexico Daily News, the secretary of Mexicos Interior Minister, Olga Sanchez Cordero, said that the attacks against candidates are unrelated to the election. She said unions and student organisations are exploiting the present circumstances to violently air their demands.

Whats next?

With the high number of seats up for election, a new composition in the lower house could emerge, that could significantly shape the federal security policy. Even at the local level, leaders who are non-compliant with criminal gangs and cartels could possibly lead to the eventual decline of criminal activities.

Amidst the rising fears of violence on election day at polling stations, Lorenzo Cordova, the president of the National Electoral Institute (INE), said that the commission isnt responsible for providing security but the federal government is.

Excelsior reported that elections have already been cancelled in two municipalities due to rising security concerns. Cordova added that polling stations may not be installed in various other parts if the situation is not contained.

Continue reading here:
Explained: Why run-up to elections in Mexico this time is the most violent in 21 years - The Indian Express

Basel, June 4, 2021 Novartis today announced the first published mature overall survival (OS) and updated overall response rate (ORR) data following treatment with Tabrecta (capmatinib) in adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a mutation that leads to MET exon 14 skipping (METex14)1-3. Data from the ongoing, pivotal, multi-cohort Phase II GEOMETRY mono-1 study will be presented today during the 2021 Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Virtual Scientific Meeting (Poster Discussion Session, Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Metastatic; June 4, 2021, 9:00 AM-10:00 AM CT; abstract 9020).

This new analysis further supports Tabrecta as a cornerstone targeted treatment for METex14 NSCLC patients and highlights the importance of biomarker testing, said Juergen Wolf, MD, from the Center for Integrated Oncology, University Hospital Cologne, and lead investigator of the GEOMETRY study. The impressive overall survival outcome and confirmed outstanding response in the first-line setting will help oncologists decide upon a therapeutic option for patients.

The analysis includes new data from the treatment-nave (1L) expansion cohort 7 and previously-treated (2L+) cohort 6, and mature data from previously-reported cohorts, for a total of 160 patients1,2.

The introduction of Tabrecta a year ago dramatically changed the treatment landscape for patients with METex14 NSCLC. Now we have further evidence that Tabrecta, the market-leading treatment specifically for METex14 NSCLC patients4, has the potential to help people live longer, said Jeff Legos, Senior Vice President, Head of Oncology Drug Development, Novartis Oncology.

The results presented today provide additional data on the efficacy of Tabrecta in both treatment-nave and previously-treated patients with METex14 metastatic NSCLC 2:

No new safety signals or unexpected safety findings were observed. Ninety-eight percent of subjects had at least one adverse event (AE) of any grade and 50.9% of subjects had at least one serious adverse event (SAE). Thirteen percent were suspected to be treatment-related. The most common adverse events (>20%, all grades) across all cohorts were peripheral edema, nausea, vomiting, increased blood creatinine, dyspnea, fatigue and decreased appetite. The majority of AEs were grade 3 or 42.

Currently, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer is less than 20%5, decreasing further when the disease is diagnosed at later stages6. Nearly one in three patients with metastatic NSCLC may have an actionable mutation7,8. METex14 has been reported to occur in 3%-4% of metastatic NSCLC cases9. Many patients with mutations that lead to METex14 are not diagnosed with NSCLC until their disease has progressed to later stages and often have poor prognosis10,11.

A separate analysis of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) evaluated cough, delayed time to lung symptom deterioration, and quality of life (QoL) in NSCLC patients with METex14 (abstract 9056)3.

Additionally, a retrospective analysis of GEOMETRY mono-1 validates the clinical utility of liquid biopsy testing to identify METex14 positivepatientsfor treatment withTabrecta (Poster Session: Lung CancerNon-Small Cell Metastatic; abstract 9111)12.

Visithttps://www.hcp.novartis.com/virtual-congress/a-2021/ for the latest information from Novartis, including our commitment to the Oncology community, and access to our ASCO21 Virtual Scientific Program data presentations (for registered participants).

About GEOMETRY mono-1GEOMETRY mono-1 is a Phase II a multi-center, non-randomized, open-label, multi-cohort study in adult patients with EGFR wild-type, ALK-negative rearrangement, metastatic NSCLC harboring mutations that lead to MET exon-14 skipping who received capmatinib tablets 400 mg orally twice daily.

Patients were assigned to cohorts on the basis of MET status and previous lines of therapy13. The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) based on the Blinded Independent Review Committee (BIRC) assessment per RECIST v1.1. The key secondary endpoint was duration of response (DOR) evaluated by BIRC.

About Tabrecta (capmatinib)Tabrecta (capmatinib) is a kinase inhibitor that targets MET. Tabrecta was discovered by Incyte and licensed to Novartis in 2009. Under the Agreement, Incyte granted Novartis worldwide exclusive development and commercialization rights to capmatinib and certain back-up compounds in all indications. In May 2020, Tabrecta was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adult patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have a mutation that leads to METex14 as detected by an FDA-approved test. This indication was approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trial(s).

In June 2020, Tabrecta was approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for adult patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have a mutation that leads to METex14 as detected by an FDA-approved test.Tabrecta was also approved in Hong Kong in February 2021 and Switzerland in April 2021.

Novartis and Lung CancerLung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, accounting for more than 2 million new cases diagnosed each year14. There are two main types of lung cancer small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)15,16. NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of lung cancer diagnoses, resulting in nearly 2 million new cases each year14,16.More people die of lung cancer every year than any other cancer type14. Treatment options are limited for people with lung cancer who experience cancer growth or progression while on current standard of care treatments17-19.

Novartis is committed to developing best-in-class treatments for lung cancer patients around the world. With a focus on both targeted, personalized medicine and the role of newer core immuno-oncology therapies, the lung cancer drug development program at Novartis is among the most robust in the industry. Novartis research activities are informed by our long-term relationships with leading lung cancer thought leaders and patient advocates. With them, Novartis is committed to reimagining the treatment of lung cancer.

IndicationTABRECTA (capmatinib) tablets is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a kind of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery (metastatic), and whose tumors have an abnormal mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) gene.

The effectiveness of TABRECTA in these patients is based on a study that measured 2 types of response to treatment (response rate and duration of response). There is no clinical information available to show if patients treated with TABRECTA live longer or if their symptoms improve. There are ongoing studies to find out how TABRECTA works over a longer period of time.

It is not known if TABRECTA is safe and effective in children.

Important Safety InformationTABRECTA may cause serious side effects, such as lung or breathing problems. TABRECTA may cause inflammation of the lungs during treatment that may lead to death. Patients should be advised to contact their health care provider right away if they develop any new or worsening symptoms, including cough, fever, trouble breathing, or shortness of breath.

TABRECTA may cause abnormal blood test results, which may be a sign of liver problems. Patients should be advised that their health care provider will do blood tests to check their liver before starting and during treatment with TABRECTA. Patients should be advised to contact their health care provider right away if they develop any signs and symptoms of liver problems including the skin or the white part of their eyes turning yellow (jaundice), dark or tea-colored urine, light-colored stools (bowel movements), confusion, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea and vomiting, pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of the stomach area (abdomen), or weakness or swelling in the stomach area.

The skin may be sensitive to the sun (photosensitivity) during treatment with TABRECTA. Patients should be advised to use sunscreen or wear clothes that cover their skin during treatment with TABRECTA to limit direct sunlight exposure.

For women of reproductive potential, TABRECTA can harm their unborn baby. They should use an effective method of birth control during treatment with TABRECTA and for 1 week after the last dose. Men who have partners who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with TABRECTA and for 1 week after the last dose.

Before taking TABRECTA, patients should tell their health care provider about all their medical conditions, including if they have or have had lung or breathing problems other than lung cancer, have or have had liver problems, or if they are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as TABRECTA can harm their unborn babies. Females who are able to become pregnant should have a pregnancy test before they start treatment with TABRECTA and should use effective birth control during treatment and for 1 week after the last dose of TABRECTA. Patients should be advised to talk to their health care provider about birth control choices that might be right for them during this time and to tell their health care provider right away if they become pregnant or think they may be pregnant during treatment with TABRECTA. Males who have female partners who can become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment and for 1 week after their last dose of TABRECTA.

Patients should tell their health care provider about all the medicines they take or start taking, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of TABRECTA include swollen hands, ankles, or feet (peripheral edema); nausea and/or vomiting; tiredness and/or weakness (fatigue, asthenia); shortness of breath (dyspnea); loss of appetite; changes in bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation); cough; pain in the chest; fever (pyrexia); back pain; and decreased weight.

Please see full Prescribing Information for Tabrecta available athttps://www.novartis.us/sites/www.novartis.us/files/tabrecta.pdf

DisclaimerThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as potential, can, will, plan, may, could, would, expect, anticipate, seek, look forward, believe, committed, investigational, pipeline, launch, or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release, or regarding potential future revenues from such products. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AGs current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About NovartisNovartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend peoples lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the worlds top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 110,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com/.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at https://twitter.com/novartisnewsFor Novartis multimedia content, please visit https://www.novartis.com/news/media-libraryFor questions about the site or required registration, please contact media.relations@novartis.com

References

*FoundationOneCDx is a registered trademark of Foundation Medicine, Inc.

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Novartis Investor RelationsCentral investor relations line: +41 61 324 7944E-mail: investor.relations@novartis.com

Excerpt from:
Novartis announces Tabrecta first published overall survival and updated overall response data in patients with METex14 - GlobeNewswire

Basically, Modi has followed a policy of surreptitiously taxing the middle class and poor, through indirect taxes such import duties on consumer goods, excise duties on petroleum products, and across the board duty protection to commodity producers, and funneling this pool

of taxes to fund subsidies and tax cuts to corporates.

The amounts involved are not small. A rough estimate is that incremental duties on petroleum products alone amount to incremental taxation on consumers to the extent of about INR, 2 Trillion or about 1% of GDP. Add up all of them, and my guess is that since 2014, consumers have been taxed to the extent of 2% of GDP, directly or indirectly, and these funds have largely gone to the corporate sector via tax cuts and other subsidies, disguised either as protection from imports and/or production linked incentives.

As you can see from the Graph of disposable income of consumers, Modis tax measures have flattened consumers disposable income since 2018. Given the general slump in the economy, the prospects of a consumer led recovery in the economy are pretty slim. Also not shown here for lack of space, there is considerable evidence that consumers had binged on credit before 2018 and are now de-leveraging.

The fact is that if the 2% of GDP that has been skimmed from consumers to the corporate sectors had led to an similar increase in private investment in the economy, GDP growth would not have tapered off, and the need for Govt to prop up growth through borrowings, would not arise. But the harsh fact is, while tycoons love the additional profit bonanza coming their way, they have used these to pair down borrowings, rather than invest, and this shows the extent of their faith in the sustainability of Modis policies. His capricious decision making doesnt inspire confidence either.

So the 2% of GDP that Modi has scrounged from the middle class and gifted to tycoons has borne no fruit for the economy. Perhaps not even for Modi, unless you count buoyant contributions to anonymous electoral bonds as returns. Incidentally, they have proved to be the best investment for tycoons considering the 2% in GDP that has accrued to them as windfall profits in return.

On the employment front, the situation is rather alarming. First consider the big picture before the pandemic as shown in the graph on employment.

Employment rate has been falling since 2012, and has further dropped from 49.9% in 2014, to 47.3 in 2019. Each percentage drop in employment rate translates roughly into half a million jobs lost. These job losses are in the organized sector only.

In the un-organized sector for which no statistics are available, on a conservative basis, a percentage point drop in employment rate means job losses of about 2.5 million. Since 2014, India has lost about 6 million jobs in the economy, before the pandemic struck. Forget about job growth for a growing population. We have fewer jobs now than in 2014.

Read the original here:
The poor and the middle class taxed like never before by the '56 inch' economy - National Herald

TYLER TxDOT is planning to conduct the following construction and maintenance work in the district during the Week of June 7, 2021. Work schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions, equipment failure, or other unforeseen issues. Slow down and pay attention in work zones.

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Seal coat operations continue around the Tyler District. Motorists should expect lane closures and delays during this work to seal and protect roadways from water, and to provide a longer life cycle. Various project work will be conducted with slow-moving mobile operations. Crews will be working in Cherokee, Henderson, Rusk, and Van Zandt counties throughout the week. Information on specific work locations is available in the Van Zandt County section of this release.

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Anderson County Palestine Maintenance plans to conduct base repairs and level up on FM 3224. Expect lane closures with flaggers and a pilot car managing traffic control.

Anderson County construction projects updates:

County Road Off-System Bridge Project

Limits: Various locations in Anderson County

Contractor: Stateline Construction, LLC

Cost: $1.5 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Summer 2021

Final cleanup activities are ongoing on the CR 458 and CR 468 bridges and roadway elements. The project consists of construction of bridges, storm sewer, guardrail, base, pavement surfaces, and pavement markings.

US 79 Super 2 Project

Limits: From 0.5 mile northeast of Loop 256 to the Anderson/Cherokee County line

Contractor: Madden Contracting Company, LLC

Cost: $14.4 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Spring 2022

Work is ongoing on the shoulders and driveways, and to place drainage structures. The work zone speed limit is 60 mph. Expect lane closures and delays. The project is widening for a Super 2, and includes sub-grade work, surface treatment, base and surface hot-mix asphalt, widening structures, bridge rail, metal beam guard fence, signage, and permanent striping.

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Cherokee County Jacksonville Maintenance plans to continue edge work on FM 23. Expect lane closures with flaggers managing traffic. Ditch maintenance is planned on roads around the county.

Cherokee County construction projects updates:

FM 22 Safety Widening and Bridge Replacement Project

Limits: From CR 1512 west of Gallatin, east to SH 110

Contractor: Stateline Construction, LLC

Cost: $5.5 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Summer 2022

The contractor is scheduled to continue bridge construction at Sandy Creek. The road is closed to traffic. Motorists should follow the marked detour route to navigate through the area. The project will widen the existing roadway, replace three bridges, and incorporate safety upgrades.

US 84 Widening

Limits: From 0.43 mi east of SH 110 in Rusk, northeast to the Rusk County line in Reklaw

Contractor: Madden Contracting Company, LLC

Cost: $7.9 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Summer 2022

The contractor is scheduled to continue right-of-way clearing. Expect lane closures with delays possible. The project will widen and resurface the roadway, and add safety upgrades.

FM 235 Safety Widening

Limits: From SH 110 going east to FM 2274

Contractor: Madden Contracting Company, LLC

Cost: $3.5 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Fall 2021

The contractor is scheduled to continue drainage upgrades. Expect lane closures with a pilot car managing traffic. The project will widen the existing roadway and incorporate safety upgrades.

FM 241 Safety Widening

Limits: From US 69 going southeast to SH 21

Contractor: A. L. Helmcamp, Inc.

Cost: $5.5 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Summer 2021

The contractor is scheduled to perform cleanup activities on this project that is widening the existing roadway and incorporating safety upgrades.

County Road Bridge Replacement Project

Limits: CR 2905 at Bowles Crk; CR 2614 at Beans Crk; CR 1504 at Turnpike Crk; CR 3203 at Mills Crk.

Contractor: Stateline Construction, LLC

Cost: $1.9 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Spring 2021

No work is scheduled on CR 3203 and CR 1504. Both roadways are open to traffic. Construction of the new bridges is ongoing on CR 2905 and CR 2614. Both roads are closed to through traffic. The projects are replacing the existing bridges at each location with new structures.

SH 204 Super-2 Widening Project

Limits: From US 79 in Jacksonville southeast to SH 110

Contractor: Madden Contracting Company, LLC

Cost: $13.7 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Summer 2021

The contractor is scheduled to perform seal coat and paving work as well as concrete driveway installation. Expect lane closures with a pilot car managing traffic. The project is adding passing lanes and includes safety upgrades.

US 69 Sidewalks in Jacksonville

Limits: From Nacogdoches St. to Tena St. in Jacksonville

Contractor: Highway 19 Construction, LLC

Cost: $507,099.00

Anticipated Completion Date: Spring 2021

No work is scheduled. The project is constructing sidewalks along US 69 in Jacksonville.

US 79 Rehabilitation Project

Limits: From 0.16 mile east of SH 110 to the Mud Creek Relief Bridge

Contractor: Madden Contracting Company, LLC

Cost: $8.2 million

Anticipated Completion Date: Spring 2021

The contractor plans to begin replacing the bridge joints. Expect lane closures and delays. The work zone speed limit is 60 mph. The project is rebuilding the roadway pavement and upgrading bridge rail.

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Gregg County Longview Maintenance plans to conduct ditch cleaning operations on FM 1252 near the county line. Expect lane closures with flaggers providing traffic control. Weather permitting, bridge repairs will continue on various roadways around the county.

Gregg County construction projects updates:

I-20 Upgrades at Barber Road (New Project)

Limits: Exit and Entrance ramps to Barber Road

Contractor: Longview Bridge and Road

Cost: $1.49 million

Anticipated Completion Date: August 2021

The contractor will be working on drainage upgrades and driveways during night work. Motorists can expect lane closures on I-20 as well as alternating ramp closures, and delays, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The project consists of widening of entrance and exit ramps, culverts, drainage upgrades, new metal beam guard fence and bridge rails on the Barber Road overpass, and an asphalt overlay.

US 80 Improvements Project

Limits: Eastman Road to 1 mile east

Contractor: Longview Road and Bridge

Cost: $1.09 million

Anticipated Completion Date: July 2021

Night work gets underway June 1 on this project that consists of constructing concrete curb and gutter in key locations in the median, an asphalt overlay, new signs, and striping. Construction will be conducted from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights. Expect lane closures and delays.

FM 2204, etc., Safety Improvement Project

Limits: US 259 Bypass to SH 322

Contractor: Stateline Construction

Cost: $3.88 million

Anticipated Completion Date: November 2021

The contractor will be working on drainage upgrades and driveways. Expect lane closures and delays. This project consists of culverts, safety end treatments, drainage upgrades, new metal beam guard fence and driveway asphalt.

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Project updates for the Week of June 7, 2021 - Texas Department of Transportation