The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is inviting the public to participate in a virtual public meeting and in-person open house regarding plans to reconstruct and realign the FM 787 Trinity River Bridge between Rayburn and Romayor in Liberty County.
The project would replace the existing bridge crossing with a new alignment approximately two miles in length. The proposed roadway would include two travel lanes, one in each direction, along with shoulders on both sides. The new corridor would require a proposed right of way measuring 150 feet wide.
The existing bridge, originally built in 1976, crosses the Trinity River at a significant bend where river migration has created ongoing maintenance challenges. The bridge was closed following severe flooding in May 2024 and reopened on March 24, 2025, after emergency repairs were completed. TxDOT officials say the proposed realignment is intended to reduce future repair and maintenance needs.
The virtual public meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, and remain available online through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2026. The meeting will feature a pre-recorded presentation with audio and visual components, along with project materials available for public review.
An in-person open house will also be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at The Retreat at Artesian Lakes Conference Center, located at 235 Chain-O-Lakes Resort in Cleveland. Attendees will be able to view the same presentation being offered online, review project materials, speak with TxDOT staff and consultants, and submit written comments. No formal presentation will be given during the open house.
According to TxDOT, additional right of way will be required for the project, but no residential or non-residential structures are expected to be displaced at this time. The project would involve construction within wetlands and a floodplain.
Environmental documents, maps, drawings, construction schedules and other project information are available for public inspection Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the TxDOT Beaumont District office, located at 8350 Eastex Freeway in Beaumont.
TxDOT’s current timeline calls for schematic design and environmental studies to continue through 2027, with an anticipated environmental decision that year. Detailed design and right-of-way acquisition are expected between 2027 and 2029, with construction currently scheduled to begin in 2029.
Written comments must be received or postmarked by Thursday, July 16, 2026, to be included in the official public meeting record.
Those needing language interpretation, translation services or accommodations for disabilities should contact the TxDOT Beaumont District Public Information Office at 409-898-5745 no later than 4 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2026.