BEAUMONT — Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a road easement agreement with Port Arthur LNG for the relocation of a section of Texas Highway 87.

Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said the agreement allows PALNG to cross into county property near Keith Lake, which is necessary for the associated work.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held in mid-November for the relocation of the stretch of highway near Keith Lake.

The relocation is intended to reduce the impact of erosion and flooding and provide a safer route away from the Intracoastal Waterway.

Clearing the riverfront was a necessary step toward a final investment decision by the middle of 2020 for a liquefied natural gas expansion project.

The company, a division of Sempra LNG, is paying $140 million for the road reconstruction and donating the stretch of highway to the state of Texas.

Port Arthur LNG, in return, will receive the old right-of-way.

In other business, commissioners entered into a contract with SETEX Construction Corporation for repairs to the Ford Park Midway.

Commissioners authorized approximately $124,000 of $500,000 budgeted to go for the work to realign culverts and stabilize the ground. Commissioners will revisit the issue next week.