Legal Services

	“I was approached by a constituent in my precinct about opening up a new road. How do we get started?”

May a commissioners court open a new road on its own motion, or is a landowner petition required?

A commissioners court may open a new road on its own motion or upon application by the public. Transportation Code §251.051 provides general authority for a commissioners court to lay out and open new roads. Additionally, Transportation Code §251.052 authorizes the commissioners court to open a new road on petition by at least eight landowners in a precinct and sets out what information must be included in the petition.

For more information, see Road & Bridge Handbook.