Road Construction Update: FM 407 & FM 2499

[admin]

Highland Village City Manager's Weekly Update re: FM 407

[Pipeline]

Highland Village City Manager's Weekly Update re: FM 407

Here's another update. I avoid the area and it's merchants at all costs. Not my problem to keep anybody afloat. FM 2499 to Denton is my alternate route.
It's HV's road, and HV's problem. Maybe Al can get his buddy mammy obammy to help keep the businesses afloat.

[JKTex]

Ya, it's a mess again, and idiots don't make it any easier turning out of straight lanes and straightening turn lanes and the worst offenses that are always ignored, the people that ignore ROW completely, blowing out of the parking lots onto any of the roads with no regard for traffic, that's challenged even more again. Oh, and put that damn phone down and pay attention. You know who you are, all of you.

[Lantana07]

Sorry some business is affected by the construction...but I guess I'm not going to go out of my way to get snagged in the traffic to go to some restaurant I don't likely normally eat at anyway. But good effort on the mayor's part.

[admin]

From the Highland Village City Manager's Weekly Update:

Each Thursday City staff attends the project meeting for the FM 407 reconstruction project. The following information was provided; TX DOT will order signs for each of the business entrances located along the FM 407 project, the signs will read “Business Entrance”. The contractor will be installing their concrete batch plant on the property located along FM 2499 at the railroad crossing. The batch plant is permitted by the TCEQ, and they anticipate a mid September for delivery of the plant. At the intersection of Barnett and FM 407, TXDOT will be reconstructing approximately 200 feet of Barnett to the north due to vertical grade difference. They will be doing half of the roadway at a time, and there will be a concentrated effort to construct Barnett utilizing weekends in an attempt to make the August 27th school start date. Project is on target with current schedule that was shared last month. Concrete paving is scheduled for November through December, 2012 for the new westbound driving lanes.

[Pipeline]

From the Highland Village City Manager's Weekly Update:

Each Thursday City staff attends the project meeting for the FM 407 reconstruction project. The following information was provided; TX DOT will order signs for each of the business entrances located along the FM 407 project, the signs will read “Business Entrance”. The contractor will be installing their concrete batch plant on the property located along FM 2499 at the railroad crossing. The batch plant is permitted by the TCEQ, and they anticipate a mid September for delivery of the plant. At the intersection of Barnett and FM 407, TXDOT will be reconstructing approximately 200 feet of Barnett to the north due to vertical grade difference. They will be doing half of the roadway at a time, and there will be a concentrated effort to construct Barnett utilizing weekends in an attempt to make the August 27th school start date. Project is on target with current schedule that was shared last month. Concrete paving is scheduled for November through December, 2012 for the new westbound driving lanes.

Avoid this route at all costs. It is a total mess. New businesses will fill in the old sites once compete. Sorry current businesses. you are screwed for a year or two.

[HVREZ]

I am with you Pipeline….screw those merchants and that whole area.…..new roads are ridiculous…personally I thought we were fine with the two lane road and the thousands of people using it….at no time was 407 frustrating before this crappy road project….I will be avoiding at all cost….no more convenient shopping for me…I am going to Denton as well……the Kroger is a mere 30 min away…way better than sitting in traffic for 5 min and going to Tom Thumb……it still burns me up thinking about those dirty merchants forming an inconvenience gang and shoving this road project down our throats……..Good Luck making it without my dime Applebees………

[JKTex]

I am with you Pipeline….screw those merchants and that whole area.…..new roads are ridiculous…personally I thought we were fine with the two lane road and the thousands of people using it….at no time was 407 frustrating before this crappy road project….I will be avoiding at all cost….no more convenient shopping for me…I am going to Denton as well……the Kroger is a mere 30 min away…way better than sitting in traffic for 5 min and going to Tom Thumb……it still burns me up thinking about those dirty merchants forming an inconvenience gang and shoving this road project down our throats……..Good Luck making it without my dime Applebees………

Sarcasm, I like that!

I'm sure the merchants would have loved for TxDOT to have gotten the roads done before the fields were obliterated and their new buildings and parking lots were built and the hundreds of employees started driving form across the metromess to come help pack the roads with more cars and fill the retail jobs that most locals won't touch. Or in the least, got them done on time without all the problems and delays. Business is a risk and thank goodness most are major national chains that have whole departments just crunching numbers on risk and how long they can stick things out like this in order to crush the pesky smaller local businesses and keep others from even thinking they have a chance against "Megagiantchain Incorporated".

Progress baby!

[HVREZ]

I was laying the sarcasm pretty thick, but sort of agree with the pipe…..the traffic is frustrating and it has been on 407 for the last 5 years the construction kicks it up a notch or two…I just don’t think it is to the level of “at all costs”….

Great Points JKTex......I understand they can’t build a 4 lane road and tons of infrastructure BEFORE they know that there will be a ton of new development, but as soon as contracts are put into place and papers are signed and cities have signed off….they need to start the process of putting the roads in place… start the environmental impact studies, start applying for grants, get plans drawn up…something….not wait until it’s all finished……maybe it’s just the way bureaucracy works….more reactionary than proactive……the small town government red tape seems takes over common sense….

This might be hard to believe, but I am not a city official, a construction manager, or a city engineer so there is a good chance I have no idea what I am talking about……but when you develop a 8000 home community and the only way in or out is a 2 lane road…then you add millions of square feet of retail….roads are going to reach capacity pretty quick……it shouldn’t take 10 or so years to build the roads

[admin]

I understand they can’t build a 4 lane road and tons of infrastructure BEFORE they know that there will be a ton of new development, but as soon as contracts are put into place and papers are signed and cities have signed off….they need to start the process of putting the roads in place… start the environmental impact studies, start applying for grants, get plans drawn up…something….not wait until it’s all finished……maybe it’s just the way bureaucracy works….more reactionary than proactive……the small town government red tape seems takes over common sense….

FM 407 is a state project overseen by TxDOT, not the local towns.

[Rosemary]

so there is a good chance I have no idea what I am talking about……

You may not be alone - have you tried posting on The Big Picture thread?

[HVREZ]

Ha ha!...yes...maybe I should be a regular.

[HVREZ]

FM 407 is a state project overseen by TxDOT, not the local towns.

I understand it’s a state project, but how does the state find out about the need for an expanded road? Does the state just hear it through the grapevine at a party? Why can’t we have a new development BBQ…the state brings their kids…the city brings all of theirs…we get some bounce houses, maybe grill some burgers and just let each other know what’s going on? Again…I have no idea how the system works nor have I done one ounce of research to find an answer….outside looking in…it seems like getting together and communicating would be easy.

[admin]

Latest estimate is an early March 2013 completion. Switchover to the new lanes on the north side of the road should happen next week.

[admin]

FM 407 project to switch lanes this week