Friday, May. 16, 2008
Deceleration Lanes to Be Constructed Along Southlake Boulevard by 2010
By Nicholas Sakelaris
Staff Writer
Southlake has plans to build deceleration lanes at 16 locations on Southlake Boulevard. The project would give motorists a safe lane for slowing down when making right turns off the seven-lane road. City officials also say the project will improve air quality because it will keep traffic flowing more efficiently.
To make room for the deceleration lanes, three driveways will have to be closed. City planners, however, have made sure that each of the affected businesses would still have alternate access, though some business owners are skeptical about the new plans.
Only one of the affected business owners had heard of the project when asked by the Journal.
Jeff Irwin, who owns the State Farm branch at 503 W. Southlake Blvd., says he has mixed emotions because he supports deceleration lanes for safety reasons, but doesn’t want to lose the entrance in front of his business.
"I think cutting that drive out would be unnecessary and detrimental," Irwin said. But, "people barrel down on you when you’re trying to turn."
The Texas Department of Transportation expects to bid the project by August 2010 with construction starting later that year, TxDOT spokesman Val Lopez said. Southlake can’t bid the project because a portion of it is being funded by federal dollars, Lopez said.
Roads that will have deceleration lanes include Jellico Court East, Jellico Court West, Brock Drive, Meadowlark Lane, Waterford Drive, Ginger Court, Stonelakes Place, Timberlake Place, Lake Crest Drive, Bicentennial Park Drive, Diamond Boulevard, Foxborough Lane, Miron Drive, Westwood Drive, Commerce Street and Bank Street.
To build the deceleration lane at Westwood Drive, the city will have to close a nearby driveway, which came as a surprise to business owners there.
Larry Lee, who owns Texas Light Bulb & Supply, found out about the plan when he asked the city about putting a marquee sign in front of his property, 1619 E. Southlake Blvd. He was told that the frontage where he wants to put the sign will likely become part of the deceleration lane.
Though his driveway isn’t on the list of entrances to be closed, he’s concerned that it could be shut down anyway.
"I need a sign. I can’t say, 'You have to come to our business from behind the building,’" Lee said. "That’s not normal. That’s just a poorly planned situation."
Jennifer Shaw, an administrator at Huckabee Dental, next door to Irwin’s business, had plenty of questions, including how long construction would last and when the driveway in front of her dental office would close.
She said cars travel too fast on Southlake Boulevard making it dangerous for people turning into neighborhoods.
"As long as there’s a way into the parking lot and it improves safety, I’m all for it," Shaw said.
To the east, a driveway near Bank Street is scheduled to be closed.
This project is separate from the state’s median project that would replace the continuous center turn lane on Southlake Boulevard with a raised divider.
TxDOT is still trying to secure funding for the median project, and a start date for that project has not been announced, Lopez said.
After the medians are built, it won’t be possible to make left turns out of the exits, which are scheduled to be closed, city officials said.
June – Southlake will submit final plans to TxDOT
August 2010 – TxDOT bids the project
Construction expected to last 18 to 20 months and will include 8-foot sidewalks
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