Since February of last year, the City of Coppell has been diligently working to enhance the infrastructure of South Belt Line Road. The project, divided into three phases, aims to address the aging roadway and accommodate increased traffic and development in the area, particularly on the east side of S Belt Line Road.
Constructed in 1985, South Belt Line Road is a six-lane divided roadway that has undergone previous improvements over the years. Mike Garza, Coppell’s Director of Public Works, emphasized that the road, now nearly 40 years old, had surpassed its useful life and required replacement.
“There's an average volume of about 45,000 vehicles that travel the road on a daily basis," Garza said, highlighting the significance of the project.
The three-phase approach began with the reconstruction of the southbound side, followed by the northbound side, allowing the road to remain operational during the process. The ongoing third and final phase, slated for completion in June 2024, focuses on the section from Hackberry Drive to I-635.
Originally designed to conclude at the intersection of I-635 and Hackberry Drive, the project expanded due to a land development proposal in early 2023. The comprehensive revision, including driveways, turn lanes, and a new traffic signal at Hackberry Drive, added a phase and extended the completion date to 2024.
Apart from pavement repair, the project incorporates turn lanes, traffic signals, and updates to the storm drain and sewer system beneath the roadway. Medians along S Belt Line Road have been landscaped to reduce water consumption, aligning with the city’s water conservation efforts.
The improvements aim to enhance traffic flow for residents and commuters alike.
“We added right turn lanes and left turn lanes at the intersections,” Garza stated. “That adds capacity at those intersections to allow folks to make those turning movements either eastbound or westbound, which in turn adds capacity through the intersection to get people to move through town.”
To mitigate the impact on businesses along S Belt Line Road, the city issued grants and implemented additional signage to notify the public that businesses remain open during the construction.
Looking ahead, the city has designed the improvements to last 30 years, implementing maintenance schedules to ensure the longevity of the roadway.
“There are maintenance schedules that we have in place to maintain the roadway and the service level,” Garza explained. “For example, every certain number of years we go out and reseal the joints or we seal any cracks, those sorts of things...that's how we maintain the concrete to last longer.”
