Copper Canyon roadwork to start this week

Construction has commenced on the southern section of Copper Canyon Road next to Lantana.

Phase I of the project to rebuild the roadway will begin at FM 407 and continue northward past the Canyon Oaks subdivision to the intersection of Copper Canyon Road and Winding Creek.

That section of the road will be completely closed and traffic will be directed to use detours along Hilltop Road to Hickory Hill or 2499 to Orchid Hill.

Residents will maintain access to their property at all times. Emergency personnel have been notified of these detours as well, officials said. The first phase is estimated to take three months to complete.

“As we have planned for this project, we have been working closely with the neighbors most impacted by this detour, and received positive feedback on the closure, “ said Denton County Commissioner Andy Eads. “By closing the road, we will be cutting the construction time in half, and save money as well.”

The road will continue to be two lanes, but will be made of concrete and expanded from 24 feet to 32 feet.

“We have some of the prettiest country roads in Denton County which inevitably attracts bicyclists. By building wide shoulders along the road, this is safer for our motorists and will also better accommodate the numerous bicyclists who travel through this part of the County. We want this project to improve the safety for all who travel the road,” said Eads.

Although the road will be widened, care was taken to reduce the impacts to the adjacent property owners, Eads said.

“We are constructing an underground water storage system, thereby reducing the necessity to buy or condemn property along the roadway. This saves right-of-way costs and the removing of trees, fences and mailboxes,” said Eads.

All three phases of the project extend from FM 407 to Hickory Hill Road and will take an estimated 18 months to complete.

The project progress can be tracked at http://dentoncounty.com/court/Precinct4/.