The batch plant will service the northern section of the Dallas North Tollway expansion project, which spans between Frontier Parkway and FM 428, according to meeting documents.
The details
The plant, to be located between the service lanes of Dallas Parkway just north of the Outer Loop, is a necessity for the project, according to a March 12 city news release.
An application has been submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to ensure compliance with regulations, according to the news release.
If the batch plant is placed any farther from the frontage roads, it could potentially put a larger strain on the community as it services the project, Assistant City Manager Kim Brawner said.
The northern section of the tollway expansion project is valued at $184 million and will take a little under four years to complete.
“It is an exciting project for the city,” Brawner said.
Managing the impact
Representatives from batch plant operator Sinacola have been working with the city to lessen any strain on residents driving the area during the project, Brawner said.
“There is a very long laundry list of items that they are willing to do to help mitigate the impact of this on the roadway,” Brawner said.
This includes:
- Maintaining weekly street sweeping of the main cross roadways
- Sweeping the main entrance of the incoming Celina Methodist Hospital
- Informing city staff of upcoming roadway closures or disruptions
- Securing the site with fencing and traffic barriers
- Holding regular meetings with city staff and the police and fire departments
- Holding a town hall meeting every six months for community feedback
- Putting up additional lighting and signage
The steps Sinacola has taken to keep the disruptions to a minimum show how committed they are to working with residents, council member Wendie Wigginton said.
Sinacola representatives have also been working closely with the incoming Celina Methodist Hospital as the batch plant will be roughly 2,000 feet away. The batch plant is located more than 500 feet away from local churches and neighborhoods, which is the city’s standard.
“The batch plant will be faced away from the hospital,” Brawner said. “The dirt and the raw materials will be between the batch plant and the hospital to help mitigate some noise.”
Stay tuned
Sinacola representatives want to connect with Celina residents while the project continues, Mayor Ryan Tubbs said.
“They really want to partner with the residents themselves,” he said. “Whether that’s through [a touch-a-truck event], or whatever else, this isn’t going to be one project where they’re coming in from out of state. They’ve been here for a long time.”
The city will be coordinating public notifications to inform residents going forward, Brawner said.
