ST9302-CS 960328;Council OKs new
design plans for
Sandy Lake Road
By JENNIFER GOOCH
Staff writer
The Sandy Lake Road expan-
sion project -- put off for almost
two years because of transmis-
sion line issues -- might finally
begin this year ff all plans are
approved.
Preliminary construction plans
eassed muster Tuesday night at
the Coppell City Council meeting,
along with preliminary landscape
plans for the roadway.
The redesign of the new divid-
ed, four-lane thoroughfare had to
start over from scratch in May
1995 because the city decided to
shift the road 10 feet to the north,
to avoid existing TU Electric
transmission lines.
Because the original design
placed part of the roadway in
TU's easement, the power compa-
ny told city officials they would
upgrade their existing transmis-
sion lines to 138kV, which also
meant 100-foot, galvanized-steel
poles would need to be placed
down the side of the new road-
way.
After major outcry from resi-
Turn to SANDY, Page 10A
i' . and
· -~ ' Associate~. Final- construction
planning now can begin.
"The shifting of the roadway
From iA north has not created an appre-
dents who live along the Sandy ciable difference between this
Lake Road corridor, concerning design and the previous design
health and aesthetic issues in in regards to the roadway itself.
their community, the council However, it has made an impact
opted to redesign the road to the in regards to the landscaping,"
north -- out of the path of TU's said city engineer Ken Griffin.
power lines -- and then fight Instead of having the strong
any upgrade application the definition of tall trees and plants
company makes to the Public along the outer edges of the
Utilities Commission. road and shorter plantings in the
Now almost a year later, the median section, the trees have
council has approved the been moved to the inside medi-
redesign submitted by the an and will not be as tall as orig-
inally planned, Griffin said.
"The city has been able to pro-
vide a very nice, aesthetically
pleasing landscaped project
even with the reduced right-of-
way on the north side," he
added.
Griffin said, in fact, more than
2,200 trees will be planted along
the roadway expansion, which
will be from Denton Tap Road to
MacArthur Road.
Dallas County will design the
rest of the road from MacArthur
Road heading east.
Total estimated cost of the
project to Coppell is nearly $10
million.
The roadway's constru
will disrupt the town of F1
Mound's water supply, x~
could present a major pro
to that community. F1
Mound officials have been ~
ing for several month'.
acquire more water.
Griffin said if Flower M
obtains additional water SUl:
soon, the Sandy Lake Road
ject could begin as early as
winter. If not, construction 1
will begin in mid- to late-19~
He added that final cons
tion plans probably wil
approved this summer.