ST9905-CS080603
THE.CITY.OF
COPPELL
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Mr. Gary Arentz
469 Sandy Knoll
Coppell Texas 75019
June 3, 2008
RE: Bethel Road Project # ST 99-05
Dear Mr. Arentz:
Thank you for your recent observations concerning the lack of clear speed limit delineation
along the stretch of Bethel Road which is currently under construction. During construction a
municipality has two options concerning speed limits in the construction area. One is to go to
Council to request a lowering of the official speed limit, which is then posted and becomes
enforceable. The second option is to post an advisory speed through the construction area.
Those are typically shown on orange construction signs.
The official speed limits were not changed for Bethel Road. Therefore they are as follows:
from Freeport Parkway to the City's west city limit with Grapevine, the speed limit is 40
mph; from Freeport Parkway to Denton Tap Road the speed limit is 30 mph. I have asked my
inspectors to look at the items that you raised in your letter to ensure that the speed limits are
clearly delineated along this stretch of Bethel Road.
Even though the city did not officially lower the speed limit, the police department can still
issue a reckless driving citation in the work area. A reckless driving citation is issued at the
discretion of the police officer. This could include numerous things, most of which we have
observed on this stretch of Bethel Road: people driving around barricades, people moving
barricades to access property, people parking on completed portions of the roadway that are
not currently placed in service, and also people who are driving at an excessive speed, if in
the opinion of the police office it was unsafe for the adjacent workers.
The Coppell city limit ends approximately 2,000 feet east of State Highway 121. I am unsure
of the speed limit on that stretch of what is called Bass Pro within the city of Grapevine. The
20 mph sign which you reference in your letter is in that section and I believe it is an advisory
speed, but I am not sure what the regular speed limit is in the city of Grapevine.
Hopefully this letter has answered your questions concerning the speed limits along the
stretch of Bethel Road currently under construction. Again, thank you for bringing this to our
attention so that we may clearly show the speed limits, both regulatory and advisory. If you
have any additional questions, or wish to discuss this further, you may contact me at the
number or email address listed below.
255 PARKWAY * P.O.BOX 9478 * COPPELL TX 75019 * TEL 972/462 0022 * FAX 972/304 3673
Sincerely.
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Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.
Director of Engineering/Public Works
Office: 972-304-3686
Fax: 972-304-7041
kgri ffi n@ci.coopell.tx.us
cc: Jim Witt, City Manager
Gary Nix, Deputy Chief
City Manager
255 Parkway Boulevard
P. o. Box 9478
Coppell, Texas 75019
Subject: Bethel Road (Denton Tap to Highway 121)
28 May 2008
The questions I have about the subject are:
CITY MANAGER
CITY OF COPPELL
What is the speed limit on this road?
Where are the speed limit signs?
I drove Bethel Rd for the first time in months this past Monday, in both directions.
Going westbound I found the only speed limit sign just past Denton Tap Rd and it was
for 30 MPH. There is/was a 20 mph sign at the zig zag detour just before you reached
highway 121 at the west end of the road. Is west bound 30 mph all the way?
Going east bound from highway 121 you are greeted with a 20 mph zig zag detour sign
and it is not until you past S. Coppell Rd do you see another speed limit sign, which is 30
mph and then about half way to Denton Tap you will fmd another 30 mph sign. Is
eastbound 20 mph until you reach old town?
I did see one old 40 mph sign going eastbound in front of the Post Office Distribution
Center, but it was on the side of the "old" lane that is now under construction. The sign is
far off the current road way to be seen or have meaning.
This reminds me of when Sandy Lake Road was under construction. No over sight to
ensure that the contractor put up any type of speed limit signs, temporary or other wise..
When the speed limit is not posted, but on the books, How can the police enforce the
speed limit.
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Sincerely,
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Gary Arentz
469 Sandy Knoll Dr
Coppell, TX 75019
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