The big picture
On June 27, council unanimously approved a $3.62 million contract with Traffic Systems Construction to improve Walker Street.
According to agenda documents, the improvements include:
- Creating dual left-turn lanes from eastbound FM 646 onto northbound Walker Street
- Adding a dedicated right-turn lane from southbound Walker Street to westbound FM 646, which will provide two left-turn lanes for southbound Walker Street onto eastbound FM 646 as well as two dedicated through lanes
- Relocating the traffic signal system at FM 646 to accommodate the proposed expanded intersection layout
- Striping the road to accommodate intersection changes
- Installing fiber cable for connectivity between FM 646 and the Public Safety Building
- Adding an eastbound left-turn lane at Town Center Drive
- Adding a new traffic signal system at Walker Street and Town Center Drive
- Adding turn lanes at Victory Lakes Drive
- Adding a new traffic signal system at Walker Street and Victory Lakes Drive
- Adding left-turn lanes at Walker Street and North Kesslers Crossing
- Adding a new traffic signal system at Walker Street and North Kesslers Crossing
The project is expected to take 380 days to complete, according to the documents, though a start date was not indicated.
Construction will be funded entirely through Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 2, which is an area that collects property taxes specifically for development within the area. However, the fiber optic cable installation will be funded by the city at $127,6000 because it falls outside the TIRZ, according to the documents.
The city had received four bids for the project as of May 11 and selected Traffic Systems Construction as the company provided the best value, the documents said.
