City Manager Provides Updates on Roadwork Projects

Don Purdum
Post Editor

December 3, 2008

At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Forney City Manager Brian Brooks updated the public on major roadway projects around town.

“FM 548 and Highway 80 is the biggest and most visible project we are trying to get done,” Brooks said.

“There are three issues related as to why the project has been delayed. The first one has been resolved. The second, TxDot at the last minute asked us to reconsider the design and make some considerations for future space that they need. As supportive as I was, they were coming at the last hour to tell us to do that. We worked with our consultant, jumped through some hoops, and now we have a proposed solution to TxDot. We are awaiting their final approval and we hope to have that this week.”

Brooks said the third issue is the railroad permit.

“Before you can get a finalized railroad permit you must have TxDot approval of the final plans. However, we are working with TxDot to allow us to bid and start the project without the approval, knowing the approval will soon follow. Everything is hinging right now on TxDot’s approvals. I’m shooting for the first of the year.”

Brooks stated that “FM 740 and FM 741 are on schedule. They have started moving utilities water, sewage, gas, electric, telephone, and cable. It’s going to be a long process, but moving those utilities is a major step forward.”

In addition to the major roadwork, Brooks said that they would like to address two roads that may help alleviate some traffic once construction begins. Those being Ridgecrest, and the road behind Fox Hollow that currently ends in front of Rae Elementary and does not extend to FM 1641.

“The projects are in design right now and will come to the Council for approval on December 12th.”

Brooks also said the Eastside paving is almost done and that the Main Street extension project is on schedule.