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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9690 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9690 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 9, 2014 3- Y Page 1 of 1 *a rrn SUBJECT: HENDERSON STREET BRIDGE DETOUR ROUTE IMPROVEMENTS This Informal Report is in response to Council's request for improved pavement markings and street illumination to improve visibility along the Henderson Street detour route at the Trinity River Vision (TRV) bridge construction site just north of downtown as well as improved pedestrian access to the Henderson Street bazaar area in this same location. As part of the construction of the new TRV bridges along Henderson Street and White Settlement Road by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the City of Fort Worth constructed a detour by-pass roadway to maintain traffic operations during bridge construction. This detour road, while constructed by the City, has now become part of the active construction work area, managed by TxDOT. The City and TxDOT have assessed the current project area conditions and determined that improvements to the existing pavement markings, street lighting and pedestrian access to the bazaar area should be implemented. The initial plan was for TxDOT's contractor to perform these services but initial cost estimates by the vendor were rejected due to their high costs. A secondary implementation plan has now been initiated where the desired improvements will be performed by the contractor who originally constructed the detour roadway supported by City crews. The proposed improvements will be coordinated with the TxDOT contractor's work being performed in the active construction work zone. The planned improvements include additional centerline and edge lines/reflectors for the detour road south of the railroad tracks to White Settlement Road along with reflective chevrons in the curve transition areas. In addition, new street lights will be installed on the existing utility poles along the detour route and pedestrian access areas will be established north of the railroad tracks to better control the crossing of bazaar patrons parking on the west side of Henderson Street and walking to the bazaar area to the east. In addition, discussions are ongoing with the bazaar management group to encourage the use of off-duty police officers at the crossing areas to better facilitate the orderly and safe movement of pedestrians and vehicle traffic. While these improvements are planned to be installed over the next two week period, City crews will immediately begin installing additional pavement markers to improve driving visibility. The Trinity River Vision Authority will be installing temporary plastic fencing in some areas to discourage parking in close proximity to the active detour traffic lanes. In addition the City's Police Department will monitor the parking activities to provide public education on safe parking and pedestrian crossing practices to patrons crossing Henderson to visit the bazaar. If you should have further questions, please contact Doug Rademaker at 817-392-6157. David Cooke City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS