FM 1301 Extension in Wharton, TX

The FM 1301 Extension is a major roadway project in Wharton, Wharton County, designed to extend FM 1301 to US 59. The filing describes the construction of a four-lane facility east of SH 60 and a two-lane road with continuing left-turn lanes and a railroad overpass to the west. The estimated cost for this new construction is $11,558,317, covering a total area of 1,043,449 square feet.

Texas Department of Transportation is the owner of record, with IDCUS Inc serving as the design firm. Frank Fonseca is the registered accessibility specialist for the project. The registration with TDLR was completed in August 2021, and plan review concluded in the same month. Construction was scheduled to begin in July 2022, with a target completion date of July 2024.

Project Status and Scope

Although the scheduled completion date has passed, TDLR has not yet recorded a final inspection, so the current state of the site is not confirmed in the public record. The project involves public funds and is a Federally funded roadway project. The scope includes significant infrastructure work, specifically the railroad overpass and lane expansions that connect local traffic to the US 59 corridor.

Compared to other new construction filings in Wharton County, this project’s cost is above the county median, placing it in the top quarter for its type. The scheduled build window of 731 days is longer than the county median of 243 days. The cost per square foot is $11, which is below the county median of $173 per square foot. These figures reflect the unique nature of large-scale roadway infrastructure versus typical building projects.

Local context for the area includes a population of about 14,129 in ZIP code 77488, with a median household income of $58,770. The median owner-occupied home value is $173,100. Wharton County’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June 2026, higher than a year earlier.

Third-party records indicate community engagement with the project. A post by IDCUS Inc described a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the FM 1301 Extension Project on February 18. Additionally, Liberation Ranches noted that the City hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the kickoff of construction on March 28, 2023. These events highlight the local interest in the completion of this critical transportation link.