Despite the delay in the scheduled opening of SH 45 SE, TXDOT says the ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for this afternoon at 2:00 PM is still on.
The actual opening of the road to drivers has been postponed by about a week due to the rainy weather, which prevented the road’s final striping.
For more information on SH 45 SE, see http://www.sh45se.org/.
It’s not an April Fool’s hoax… yesterday’s letter from TXDOT Austin District Engineer Bob Daigh announcing his retirement from TXDOT at the end of April is the real deal.
Daigh started at TXDOT in March 1988 as an engineer in the Georgetown Area Office, before becoming Austin District programming and contracts engineer in 1995. He then moved to the Texas Turnpike Authority, serving as deputy director and director of turnpike planning and development, where he was instrumental in developing the innovative financing that made the Central Texas Turnkpike Project (CTTP) possible. After assuming the position of Austin District Engineer in 2003, Daigh oversaw construction of the massive project and presided over the district’s efforts to leverage funding for additional toll projects. The success in bringing the region’s first toll roads to fruition and expanding major highways in the last decade is due in part to Daigh’s herculean efforts.
Daigh serves on the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) transportation policy board and executive committee, the Combined Transportation, Emergency and Communications Center (CTECC) governing board, and the Central Texas Clean Air Force board.
Recognition of Daigh’s efforts include:
2003 - Unsung Hero award recognizing for his efforts on behalf of Central Texas transportation from CATC
2003 - Gibb Gilchrist award recognizing his outstanding service in highway engineering with TxDOT from Texas A & M University
2005 - Jack Griesenbeck Leadership in Regionalism Award from the Capital Area Council of Governments
Former Texas Turnpike Authority Chair and CATC founder Pete Winstead said, “Bob Daigh has been a very positive force at TXDOT for moving transportation and mobility projects forward. His can-do attitude produced great benefits for Central Texas and he will be missed.”
Executive Director Bruce Byron observed that Daigh “utilized the the region’s limited resources to the greatest advantage. He is among the hardest working and most selfless public servants I’ve ever known.”
TxDOT Austin District Engineer Bob Daigh to retire at the end of April
Daigh leaves behind $5 billion of new roads, few enemies
Pete Winstead, Bob Daigh, and Bruce Byron