Plans unveiled by the Texas Department of Transportation late last month show Karnes County to be outside the latest plot for the Trans-Texas Corridor 35 major highway project.

The plan moving forward will be to connect TTC-35 with Interstate 35 south of San Antonio. That plan bypasses routes through Karnes County and possibly Wilson County.

The report issued by TXDOT says construction could begin as early as 2011, pending final environmental clearance.

"The development of TTC-35 is one part of a comprehensive plan to solve the transportation problem we face in Texas," said Texas Transportation Commission Chairman Ric Williamson. "Breaking the gridlock on Interstate 35 is critical. Governor Perry, the Texas Legislature, TXDOT, and literally thousands of local leaders have worked hard over the past six years to develop our expanding economic opportunity and preserving the quality of our transportation system."

In North Texas, the toll road will connect to Interstate 35 north of Dallas and will run into Oklahoma, according to the plan.

TXDOT Executive Director Michael Behrens stressed that the actual defined route of TTC-35 has not yet been set and many other decisions are yet to come.

"We consider this a living document that will continue to evolve and change as the environmental study continues," he said. "It does not set the route for TTC-35, it does not authorize construction, it does not set toll rates ... those decisions are yet to come."

A major planned addition to Texas’ transportation system, TTC-35 has come under staunch opposition by Texas citizens and politicians, mainly due to the fact that the land required to build the massive highway system will have to be purchased from private owners.

TXDOT officials have promised they will pay fair market value for any properties landowners have been forced to sell, but some people don’t want to sell their land for any price.

TTC-35’s main objective is to relieve heavy congestion on Interstate 35 and other major traffic arteries flowing through Texas. Private corporations will fund and build the highway in exchange for regaining their investment by charging tolls on TTC-35 for the next 50 years.