From the cover
Road rehab
BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY & CONNOR PITTMAN
What you need to know
while trying to mitigate traffic impacts by closing off one lane at a time. She said the asphalt overlay is a durable solution for the roadway with a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years. The city began using asphalt overlays to repair segments of the road in 2017, and officials said they have noticed better results compared to conventional concrete repairs. “We have not seen any major concrete failures in our asphalt overlay areas,” Jones said.
It is more efficient to replace the water main before construction, Thornhill said, because it saves taxpayers money. “We’re trying to be proactive and get it replaced before we do the major improvements to the roadway so we don’t have to be out there in a couple of years and replace the water line,” Thornhill said. Jones said the asphalt overlay process is a more efficient way to extend Parker Road’s lifespan
City staff project the total cost of the project to be around $20 million, which is funded through general obligation bonds and the water fund. The water main replacement is necessary, Director of Engineering Caleb Thornhill said, because there is an old cast iron water pipe under Parker Road that needs to be replaced with PVC pipe. In some areas, pavement along Parker Road is up to 40 years old, and the cast iron water main is nearly 50.
The Parker Road construction is estimated to cost around $20 million in total. Project scope
L E G A C Y D R .
INDEPENDENCE PKWY.
WINDHAVEN PKWY.
Plano
Water main replacement: about $4.7 million
S P R I N G C R E E K P K WY.
Key:
DNT TOLL
75
Plano city boundaries Parker Road east Parker road west
PARKER RD.
COUNTRY PLACE DR.
East pavement repair and asphalt: about $8.27 million
West pavement repair and asphalt: about $5.93 million
W . P A R K B L V D .
Water main replacement
CUSTER RD.
N
SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO/COMMUNITY IMPACT
PGBT TOLL
What’s next
Zooming in
The extensive construction on Parker Road has led to several complications for drivers. From July 5-Jan. 25, the city received 86 claims for vehicle damage caused by the construction on Parker Road, with 68 of those claims being filed in January. The uptick in claims was caused by the combination of work on the water main and increased awareness of the city’s claim program, a city representative said. Gary Hirsch, owner of Hirsch’s Meats on the corner of Parker Road and Alma Drive, said he sees the effects daily. Parker Road has always had traffic due to its central location in the city, Hirsch said, and the construction is adding further to his customers’ commute. “We’re all frustrated, especially since [the construction] was happening over the holidays,” he said. “I hear [customers] in here grumbling about the construction, and I understand the frustration.” Hirsch said he has constantly had to adapt over the 30 years his business has been in Plano. But between the weather and ongoing construction, he
said his business had some of its “slowest days” at the start of this year. “We’ve seen traffic backed up all the way down the street,” he said. “I know some people may not make that extra trip to come here because they don’t want to put up with that.”
Thornhill said the water main replacement is scheduled to be complete in July and could last as long as 50 years. Jones said crews are continuing work on asphalt overlays between Country Place Drive and the eastern city limits, and between the western city limits and Willow Bend Drive. Overlays between Custer Road and Independence Parkway will begin after the water main installation. However, the Parker Road project will likely be completed in 2027 because asphalt overlays can only be installed when the road temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, Jones said. Plano drivers, including Hirsch, are looking forward to seeing that progress take shape. “We have to tolerate it, and hopefully come springtime, it will be a beautiful road,” he said.
Parker Road is one of the highest traffic roads in Plano. Trips per day
Between Custer Road and eastern city limits :
35,200
Between Custer Road and western city limits : 31,500
Drivers who experienced vehicle damage as a result of the Parker Road construction can file a claim with the city. More information can be found online.
SOURCE: CITY OF PLANO, PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
15
PLANO NORTH EDITION
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