Commissioners hear update on transportation projects

Morgan McIlwain said three public town hall meetings on the county's thoroughfare plan are set to begin next week, and that the firm is preparing a funding application for additional 2027 regional funding through the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Parker County Transportation Town Halls are scheduled at the following times and locations:

• Monday, Sept. 21, 6-8 p.m.
Peaster Intermediate School Cafeteria
3401 Harwell Lake Road, Weatherford
• Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6-8 p.m.
Weatherford High School Cafeteria
2121 Bethel Road, Weatherford
• Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6-8 p.m.
Don R. Daniel 9th Grade Campus Cafeteria
990 Bailey Ranch Road, Aledo

McIlwaine highlighted progress in each of the Parker County precincts, including:

Precinct 1: Right-of-way acquisition and utility coordination are progressing on Church Road, with final design nearing completion. Paving and storm drain work continue on Midway and Tonnis, where detours remain in place. At the Stewart Street signal, poles and one direction's signal heads are installed; the remaining three directions and a power connection are expected to be finished within a few weeks. Closeout documents for the FM 51/Veal Station project are expected later this month, and design work on Hutcheson Road is about 60% complete.

Precinct 2: Storm drain work continues on Oak Ridge Drive, with a detour still in place. Comments on the FM 51/Carter project are being addressed, with final plans expected to go back to the Texas Department of Transportation next month; that project is funded through the state's Highway Safety Improvement Program. A design kickoff meeting for Pojo Road was held last week, and an operational and safety study is underway for the Zion Hill intersection. Pavement-marking work near Poolville Elementary is complete.

Precinct 3: A new traffic signal at the intersection of the old Garner Road and Highway 180/FM 20 is expected to go live later this month, after which work will shift to the Greenwood intersection. Schematic design for the Interstate 20 frontage roads is about 60% complete, and a design contract approved at the court's previous meeting is moving forward alongside a feasibility study. Construction on the I-20 ramps project — for which TxDOT let a construction contract last month — is expected to begin later this year. Utility relocations for the Fairview Lane project are complete, pending final approval to switch service before construction begins. Schematic design work continues on FM 1884 at Bethel Road, and traffic counts for a warrant study at FM 1708 and FM 51 are expected this week or next.

Precinct 4: Phase 1 of the Bankhead Highway improvement project is currently out for bid, with a bid-opening date of Oct. 15. Design on the Bankhead bridge improvements is about 90% complete and under internal review. At the FM 5 intersection, the county is addressing TxDOT's comments on the 90%-design plans, with right-of-way acquisition expected to wrap up this month and utility coordination underway. Old Weatherford Road and the FM 1187 widening project remain under continued consideration, including coordination with TxDOT and the North Central Texas Council of Governments. On Kelly Road, right-of-way and utility coordination are progressing, and traffic signal poles for the intersection at Highway 377 have been purchased.