ST9304-CS010516John, we have talked in the past about the concems of coming in and out of the TXU
North Lake Plant with the current expansion of Belt Line Road and its construction
hazards. Due to the present traffic load, it is very difficult to either make a left turn from
Belt Line Road into the plant while going west bound or turning left out of the plant to go
west bound on Belt Line Road. To compound the problem there are two traffic .lights that
trap traffic in front of the plant entrance that makes it difficult to either turn into the plant
or leave the plant road.
On the morning of May 15 at about 0715 there was an accident on Belt Line Road at the
turn off into the plant. The accident involved a contractor working at North Lake. He
was facing west waiting for the traffic to allow him to turn left onto the plant road. He
was rear ended. Only seconds after that, he was rear ended again by another vehicle. The
contractor was eventually taken to the hospital complaining of stiffness and tingling of
his toes.
This accident occurred with the vehicle having to cross only one lane of traffic. When
the project is complete, there will be two lanes to cross to enter the plant entrance. In
addition, a person leaving the plant entrance and trying to make a left turn onto Belt Line
Road will have to cross two lane of traffic plus merging into the west bound traffic. Both
activities will be difficult at best to achieve without a traffic control light.
The concerns about vehicular traffic doesn't stop with personal vehicles but it can be
expanded to the commerical vehicles that service the plant. If a commercial vehicle
(such as a freight truck or a Fuel Oil track) must turn left while traveling westbound, it
will be both very difficult for the vehicle and somewhat disruptive of the east bound
traffic.
Doing two activities during the road construction project can reduce this traffic concern.
One, install a temporary traffic control light during the road construction project. Second,
install a permanent traffic control after the project is complete. The wire loop trip needs
only to install on the west bound left turn lane and at the plant entrance to assist in
leaving the plant to go west bound.
If there are questions please call Robert Thompson at 972.401.4514.