August 2010
A new Taco Bell is under construction on the north side of Main Street in downtown Grand Prairie just west of the Belt Line Road bridge. The 2,855-square-foot restaurant is estimated to open in fall 2010.
The city’s new Public Safety Center and The Summit at Central Park are now open.
The first phase of Central Park, the 172-acre park where the Public Safety Center and The Summit are located, is nearing completion. The five lakes, stone retaining walls and three waterfalls are complete. The two pedestrian bridges over the third lake are in place. The Esplanade and Park Central Drive paving that connects Arkansas with Warrior Trail within the site is complete. Landscape trees have been planted and the majority of landscaping around The Summit and Public Safety Building has been installed. Grassing of the site from SH 161 to the boardwalk has been seeded and is growing in. Entrance signs at SH 161, Warrior and Arkansas have been constructed and the park lettering has been placed. Two additional pedestrian bridges are being added in the parking lot of the Summit for improved access to the Center. Completion of that work is anticipated by August 12. The park restroom is approximately 60% complete and should be completed by the end of August. The ‘Willow Tree’ art piece components are under construction in Dallas. Final assembly and field installation for Lake 3 is scheduled for August 2010.
The Lake Parks Rescue Facility construction is almost complete. The exterior work on the buildings is essentially complete and interior work is nearing completion. This complex will provide a replacement for the current Fire Station #7 that is better situated within its service area. The facility will also include a new Parks administrative facility for the Lake Parks and new Police offices for the Lake Patrol. A ribbon cutting took place Aug. 17. Staff should be occupying the space in September 2010.
The former Army Navy store property on 130 W. Church Street has been acquired and demolished by the city of Grand Prairie. Dallas County has plans to construct a new county sub-courthouse on the property, which will replace the current county courthouse at 630 W. Main St. The county’s tax and driver’s license offices will also be combined into the new facility. The current location for the county’s tax office is 525 W. Pioneer, and the driver’s license office is located at 550 S. Carrier Pkwy until construction is complete. Construction may start by year end, with a tentative opening for early 2012.
Parkland Hospital System has entered into an agreement with the city of Grand Prairie to build a new clinic in Grand Prairie at 801 Conover Street, the site of the current police headquarters. The proposed 25,000-square-foot clinic would provide primary preventive care for infants, children, adults and seniors. A full service pharmacy would also be available. The clinic is expected to be operational in early 2012.
If you drive down Great Southwest Parkway, you may have noticed that the old Grand Prairie Airport terminal building no longer exists. The old terminal and flight school building were torn down in May to make way for a new 7,000-square-foot airport terminal set to be complete in summer 2011. The new $1.3 million airport terminal will feature six offices, a pilot’s lounge, general terminal waiting area and snack bar. Fifty percent of the building cost is paid for from the Airport Capitol Projects budget and the other half is paid for by the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation division. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2010. In the meantime, airport staff is located in a temporary building north of the former terminal site.
Road Construction UpdateSH 161All main lanes and frontage roads between I-30 and SH 183 are open to traffic. Main lanes from I-20 to I-30 will be built by the North Texas Tollway Authority and construction is underway. This segment is scheduled to be complete by late 2012.
I-30Construction contracts for frontage roads between Belt Line Road and MacArthur Boulevard will be awarded by October 2010. The off ramps will be moved back and a frontage road will be built with a new park and ride on the south side of I-30 east of Belt Line. Construction is scheduled to be complete in late 2012.
I-20A concept plan is currently in the approval phase at TxDOT for frontage roads from Carrier to Belt Line eastbound and westbound.
Lake Ridge ParkwayConstruction will begin in early 2011 to widen Lake Ridge Parkway to six lanes from Great Southwest Parkway to Joe Pool Lake at Lynn Creek Marina. The project is scheduled to be complete by late 2012.
Also beginning in early 2011,
Lake Ridge Parkway will be extended from I-20 where it intersects SH 161. Lake Ridge will become six-lane arterial roadway to Polo Road and will be widened from four lanes to six lanes from Polo to Great Southwest Parkway. Design and right-of-way acquisition are underway and construction is scheduled to be complete by late 2012.
Carrier Parkway
Construction has begun on intersection improvements at Carrier Parkway and SH 360 in conjunction with the City of Arlington’s widening of Green Oaks Boulevard to the west. An additional left and right turn lane will be added. Construction is scheduled to be complete in mid 2010.
Mayfield Road
Reconstruction is complete from SH 360 to Great Southwest Parkway and the new concrete lanes are open to traffic. The new road includes drainage improvements and two lanes each direction with a center turn lane. The intersection of Mayfield Road and Great Southwest Parkway has also been widened to include turn lanes.
Mayfield and SH 360The City of Grand Prairie is working with the City of Arlington through TxDOT on making intersection improvements at this location. The project is substantially complete.
January LaneConstruction is underway for a new road between SH 161 and the existing January Lane which is Randol Mill Road in Arlington.
Crossland and Forum ExtensionConstruction will begin in summer 2010 on a four-lane divided thoroughfare from Robinson Road to Waterwood Drive. The project is scheduled to be complete in summer 2011.
Sara Jane ExtensionThe City has awarded a design contract for a four-lane undivided roadway connecting the current Sara Jane Parkway north to Forum Drive. This project will include a bridge over Fish Creek, water, sanitary sewer and drainage improvements.