1 Downtown Roanoke Lamar & Bowie streets reconstruction
Reconstruction of Lamar and Bowie streets began Feb. 17. Both roads will undergo utility replacement and drainage improvements from Oak Street to Walnut Street, including new water lines, sanitary sewers and the inclusion of curbs and gutters with sidewalks.
Timeline: Feb. 17-September
Cost: $1.7 million
Funding source: city of Roanoke
2 City of Keller water system improvements project
A: The first phase of the city of Keller Water System Capital Improvements project began Jan. 27 on Mt. Gilead Road between Hwy. 377 and Stegall Drive.
B: The second phase, affecting Bourland Road between Mt. Gilead and Lavena Street, began Feb. 17. The project will provide water infrastructure maintenance, filling potholes, excavation and the replacement of water main and service connections.
Timeline: January-April
Cost: $2.6 million
Funding source: city of Keller Water System Capital Improvements Project
3 Hwy. 170 overhaul
The Texas Department of Transportation plans to overhaul Hwy. 170 between I-35W and Hwy. 114. The project includes the construction of four main lanes from I-35W to the Denton County Line and the restriping of existing Hwy. 170 main lanes from two to four lanes from the Denton County Line to Hwy. 114. Improvements include the additions of new bridges and U-turns to bypass existing intersections at Old Denton Road, Park Vista Boulevard, Independence Parkway and Hwy. 377.
Timeline: summer 2020-2023
Cost: $155 million
Funding source: TxDOT
Distracted driving still an issue in Texas
State law prohibits texting while driving, but according to the Texas Department of Transportation, one in five traffic accidents in the state involve distracted driving. In effect since 2017, the law may have contributed to the 6% decrease in crashes involving distracted driving in the past two years, according to TxDOT.
TxDOT has two campaigns—“Head’s Up, Texas” and the #EndTheStreakTX initiative—to help educate Texas drivers about the law and remind them of the dangers of distracted driving. The goal is to eliminate deadly accidents on Texas highways. There has been at least one traffic-related death in Texas every day since Nov. 8, 2000. The campaigns ask all Texans to commit to driving safely to help end the streak.
