Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Three things to know about the FM 1938 Project

1709 Message Board - Eastbound Southlake Blvd

1709 Message Board – Eastbound Southlake Blvd

What should you know about the FM 1938 Project?

The FM 1938 Phase 2 project is currently underway and is expected to be complete in about two years. For drivers in and around the area there are three things to keep in mind.

  1. It’s a $20.6 million TxDOT roadway project to widen 1.6 miles of FM 1938 northbound to four lanes (two northbound and two southbound)
  2. The intersection of FM 1938 and Southlake Boulevard (FM 1709) will be reworked to include dual-left turn lanes at all intersections
  3. It’s estimated to be complete in 2017

 

Since the project’s start in April 2015, TxDOT contractors have been working along northbound FM 1938 and, more recently, at the intersection of FM 1938/Southlake Boulevard (FM 1709) prepping the roadway for widening, installing drainage and installing temporary signals. That work represents significant progress on this project that will, once it’s complete, serve the needs of the driving public.

“For all of us, lane closures and traffic switches, coupled with the normal heavy traffic, have escalated an already complicated traffic issue that can make traveling along Southlake Boulevard tiresome,” said Southlake Public Works Director Bob Price. “With school starting next week, it’s likely the traffic situation will only become more frustrating during peak am and pm times,” he added.

Price has the following suggestions for getting through the 1938 construction:

  • Plan ahead and give yourself enough time to get where you need to go
  • Use a traffic application if possible
  • Be patient. The construction won’t be complete until 2017.
  • Seek alternate routes if possible.  To help with this, the City has recently placed billboards near Pearson Lane heading east on FM 1709 advising some alternate routes (see image on the right).
  • Stay informed.

The last point is crucial in getting through these growing pains. The City is doing what we can to make residents aware of the progress of the project via MySouthlakeNews.com, Facebook and Twitter. TxDOT also provides periodic updates via the fm1938mobility@gmail.com email list – sign up to keep up to date on the latest in the FM 1938 construction project.

 

 

 

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