The Forney City Council met on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at City Hall, to discuss a proposal for a new Highway 80 ramp design that covers the south side of 80 from FM 460 to Pinson Road. The FM 460 entrance ramp has been the scene of numerous accidents, so the Council funded the design aspect of the ramp project and previously hired H.W. Lochner to design the project.
The Forney City Council met on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at City Hall, to discuss a proposal for a new Highway 80 ramp design that covers the south side of 80 from FM 460 to Pinson Road. The FM 460 entrance ramp has been the scene of numerous accidents, so the Council funded the design aspect of the ramp project and previously hired H.W. Lochner to design the project.
Related: Forney City Council approves engineer for FM 460 project
Under the proposed design from Lochner's Project Manager Chris Hocate, a number of changes would be made to the 1.5 mile stretch of ramps along Highway 80. Currently there is an extremely short entrance ramp on the south side of the highway at FM 460. Many 18-wheelers use the entrance ramp after stopping off at Knox Fuel Stop. Unfortunately when traffic is heavy on 80, it makes it a daunting task for the truckers or any other vehicle to safely enter the highway at the FM 460 entrance ramp. The proposed design would eliminate that entrance ramp and instead build a long exit ramp at the location.
Until the FM 460 ramp is changed, the Council must find a temporary solution to help eliminate the danger it poses. Forney Police Chief Rick Barnes confirmed to the Council that the short entrance ramp at FM 460 is the cause of most of the wrecks in that area. A “Yield” sign has been put up at the exit, but Mayor Darren Rozell would like to see a sign with lights that warns drivers that it is a short entrance ramp. Councilman Ray Stephens would prefer the entrance be closed all together, but others feel that is too big of a step to take at this time.
Another major change would be at the Broad Street exit. The exit would be moved further east, closer to Lovers Lane. The new frontage road from FM 460 to Pinson would be changed to one-way traffic eastbound only. There would be access to Broad Street by making a right turn onto Lovers Lane. The new frontage road off of Highway 80 would literally run through Flag Hill, where the flags and miniature Statue of Liberty currently stand. The flags and statue would have to be moved elsewhere to accommodate the new road. Lochner Design Engineer Mark Neuschafer explained that the needed improvements to the frontage road would necessitate widening it at that location.
The third change to a Highway 80 ramp would come at Pinson Road. Currently there is a short exit ramp at Pinson Road. It is a challenging exit off the Highway because many people slow immediately after exiting in order to turn into the Dairy Queen or Shell station. The new design eliminates the Pinson Road exit and instead changes it to a safe Highway 80 entrance ramp.
The next step in the project will be for Lochner to add some minor adjustments that TxDOT would like to see, and then they will do a formal schematic design and begin the environmental clearance process. All of that could be completed by August 2013, and once approved, Lochner will begin designing the construction plans. According to Assistant City Manager Gina Nash, “The design of the plans, along with the subsequent state and federal approvals will take about a year.”
If TxDOT follows through with the majority of the funding for the multi-million dollar project, construction could begin in late 2014. This project when funded would be Phase one. Phase two would address the north side of Highway 80 between FM 460 and Pinson Road, but new funding would have to be found in order to make that happen.
