12/16/2021
TRAFFIC ALERT
Drivers have encountered only occasional impacts during Phase I of construction around the Bear Creek Parkway/Whitley Road intersection, which kicked off last month. That will change in January when the intersection will CLOSE ENTIRELY for about four months as crews transition the four-way stop sign intersection into a roundabout.
The official detour routes will use Rufe Snow Drive, Hwy. 377, Keller Parkway, and Wall Price-Keller Road, and Keller PD will help keep an eye on other neighborhood streets that we anticipate local residents will use as a bypass.
Here’s the tentative timeline, and answers to some of this project’s most frequently asked questions:
• Intersection Closure: Monday, Jan. 17, 2022
• Anticipated Substantial Completion (intersection reopens): May 13, 2022
• Project Completion (landscaping, cleanup, etc.): July 2022
>>>Will this be a single-lane or two-lane roundabout? Will there be signage about how to use it?
Bear Creek/Whitley is designed as a single-lane roundabout similar to the one in Marshall Ridge. And yes, a combination of signage — as well as the angles of the design itself — will make it clear how to use it for those who aren’t familiar with roundabouts.
>>>Why a roundabout instead of signals?
Studies consistently show that roundabouts are safer than traditional four-way stops, practically eliminating the opportunity for head-on and T-bone collisions. They also always work since they don’t rely on electronic signals, and they move traffic more efficiently at all times of day (how frustrating is it to have to stop at a stop sign or red light when you’re the only one at the intersection?). Finally, as the city continues with plans for Old Town Phase II, a roundabout offers a more visually appealing gateway to Elm Street and the portion of Old Town that will see millions in future capital project investments.
>>>Aren’t roundabouts more expensive than signalized intersections?
Roundabouts typically cost more than signalized intersections initially, but their long-term maintenance costs are lower. In this case, the pavement, right-of-way, and other infrastructure of a traditional signalized intersection was estimated to cost just over $1.9 million. The construction contract for the roundabout was just under $2.3 million.
>>>Why close the whole intersection during construction?
Closing the intersection entirely will allow the project to go faster, and it eliminates the need for temporary pavement, additional signage and staging, etc. that come with their own cost. Most importantly, it also provides a much safer environment for the work crews.
>>>How will the roundabout impact the Hwy. 377/Bear Creek intersection?
Traffic studies conducted that modeled both a signalized intersection and a roundabout determined that the Hwy. 377 light was far enough away that a stacking issue was unlikely to occur with either intersection option at Whitley/Elm. Public Works will be conducting another study once the roundabout opens, though. If the timing of the Hwy. 377 intersection proves to be an issue for the Whitley intersection, the city will work with TxDOT to have it adjusted.
>>>Does this mean the Johnson/Keller-Smithfield intersection will close entirely when it’s time for that roundabout project?
No, we do not anticipate a full closure at Johnson/Keller-Smithfield when the time comes. That intersection’s proximity to Fire Station 2 poses a problem for a full closure, so we expect that intersection work to use partial closures with a longer timetable.
