During a joint Denton ISD and Denton City Council meeting Oct. 13, Seth Garcia, Denton’s director of capital projects and street operations, gave updates on four city street projects requiring coordination with nearby schools.
The city of Denton is working closely with neighboring schools to keep walking and driving routes to school as open as possible for students and parents, Garcia said.
1. Riney Road East
Project: The project widened Riney Road from west of Hardaway Road to US 77. The project also added a concrete hike and bike trail tying Anita Reeves Elementary School to the city’s North Lakes Park trails.
Update: The project is substantially complete, and the roadway is fully open. Final striping is underway and a flashing pedestrian beacon is going in at the crosswalk.
2. Bonnie Brae Street
Project: The sixth phase of construction along Bonnie Brae extends from US 380 to US 77 to widen the roadway and add new sidewalks, drainage, traffic signals and street lights.
Update: Construction of the southbound lanes is complete and demolition of northbound lanes will not start until the new southbound sidewalk is put in for students walking to and from Anita Reeves Elementary School and Denton High School.
3. Westgate Drive
Project: Upcoming construction stretching to Windsor Drive will widen the roadway, increase pedestrian facilities and install new utilities and drainage.
Update: The city will work closely with Denton High School to ease the burden on students and families coming from that direction.
4. Safe routes to schools
Project: In collaboration with the Texas Department of Transportation, the city of Denton will add new sidewalks and bike paths around Newton Rayzor Elementary and Calhoun Middle School.
Update: The project design is 30% complete and undergoing review. When construction begins, the city will coordinate with the nearby schools to minimize the impact on students.
