WhiteRockFan

Crossing NY HWY on the bike trails has always been a risky proposition. My understanding is the trail will cross underneath NW Hwy once construction is finished and this will be a great improvement.

Forrest Gump

Yes it will and the new trail going east on the northbound side of NW Hwy to Goforth will also go underneath NW at that intersection to East Lawther giving riders a wider loop of the lake and less congestion all round. It may keep some riders off Mockingbird Bridge which can still be very dangerous for riders.

CasperITL

Sucks that they tore out all those old trees on both sides of the intersection. Some of those trees were planted by the WPA/CCC in the 1930s.

shaun3000

I'm pretty sure those trees would have died when they built the highway on top of them. And there are plenty more trees around the lake, many of which were also planted by the WPA and CCC.

CasperITL

Mmmm, I think a few of them did not need to be removed. A couple were of the 60 foot variety.

Forrest Gump

Update: http://lakewood-dallas.blackwhitere.../articles/19432

Speedbump Joey

That is very nice.

Forrest Gump

Update

http://www.lakehighlandstoday.com/i...y_construction/

CasperITL

The quoted text is from another forum and is simply unacceptable if true. This will ruin White Rock Lake for runners, cyclists and families who need to cross at Lawther.

shaun3000

E Lawther has been closed for a while at the intersection with NW Highway. Maybe that is what they are talking about? I can't imagine they would close W Lawther.

But even if they do, crossing at E Lawther near Flag Pole Hill shouldn't be a problem. But riding down Buckner is a big negative. I'm comfortable on roads but that is just DANGEROUS!!

CasperITL

Yeah, this is all news to me and it is second hand. I could not imagine that the Liquor stores and such would allow this to happen. Not to mention CC Young with all the construction vehicles that must use NW Highway to deliver construction materials. I do not think the squeeze under the Mockingbird overpass would work.

Guess we will find out.

txRNGr

Maybe they will have the White Rock bike trail reconfigured by that time. It will eventually run under Northwest Hwy to the east of W Lawther allowing movement along the trail without dealing with the intersection.

Forrest Gump

The trails are supposed to be the last part of the construction. Saw a sign this morning that the left turn lane on Lawther from east bound NW Hwy will be closed starting July 13 suggesting they will be starting with the intersection then.

It is still possible to cross NW at the traffic light across from the Dart Station at White Rock... you would have to use the sidewalks on NW Hwy west of the Lawther intersection for the short detour. A bit messy but better than getting on Buckner I would think.

CasperITL

This is very bad news and someone's head should roll for lack of oversight for allowing this to happen. More people use this crosswalk than the Katy Trail. Closing it for two years is just impossible.

You think small children on bicycles riding along with their parents are going to be able to ride up-and-over Flag Pole Hill? No.

This is almost a disaster if you live in Lake Highlands, North Dallas or Richardson.

Do I blame TXDOT or the folks in Lake Highlands who demanded a shorter bridge? All that debate and they did not think of the bike path.

Forrest Gump

I am extremely concerned about the merging traffic from eastbound NW Hwy to Buckner south that does not stop at the proposed crossing. Scary stuff...don't think I would try that. I think a lot of people will change their various routes to avoid this if possible.

CasperITL

I'm more worried about the traffic attempting to cross from Buckner onto westbound NW Highway. Three people were nearly killed there a few years ago by a distracted driver. Someone will be killed there if foot traffic is forced to this crosswalk.

Columbus Civil

Any plan that reduces the number of cyclists at White Rock Lake is ok by me.

__________________
Dallas uber alles

CasperITL

It won't so much cut down the cyclists as it will children, horses, rollerbladers, elderly, handicapped, people with dogs, fisherman, Boy Scout Troops, Conrad High Track team. These user groups will be blocked from using the lake via the bike path. They will not be able to make the trip up Flag Pole Hill. Twice.

If the goal is to eliminate people from using the park, they have accomplished their goal.

There will be a time in the next two years that someone dies crossing NW Highway. 100% probability. The TXDOT spokeslady said that people crossing NW Highway will just need to be very careful. What a joke. How can she say that.

DFWCRE8TIVE

White Rock Trail cyclists worry about detour plans
01:08 PM CDT on Saturday, July 3, 2010
By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News
jsimnacher@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...il.1d06f96.html

Le Tour de France, as always, will hold its seasonal place in the conversation, but the big buzz among Dallas cyclists is the pending detour of White Rock Trail.

On July 13, the Texas Department of Transportation plans to close West Lawther Drive where it and the White Rock Trail cross Northwest Highway.

The $32 million TxDOT project will raise Northwest Highway onto concrete piers six to eight feet above the flood plain. The work also includes a new path under the newly raised road.

Eventually, the project will provide a safer route for cyclists on the popular trail, which runs from the lake and winds through Lake Highlands, ending at Valley View Park north of LBJ Freeway.

But at issue is how the trail is rerouted while the work is done over the next 18 months.

Michael Hellmann, planning manager with Dallas Park and Recreation, said Dallas and TxDOT are working to devise a detour to keep the trail open and safe. City and state officials are planning to meet early next week to discuss their options, which include closing the trail altogether for 18 months.

Some cyclists are concerned that they will be diverted east to cross Northwest Highway at Buckner Boulevard, where there is far more traffic.

"Buckner feeds in a lot of cars," said Boyd Wallace, owner of Dallas Bike Works. "It's three lanes pouring into Northwest Highway, four lanes if you count the ... turn lane."

Wallace, whose shop is across from the trail, suggested a detour that would take cyclists through his parking lot and across Northwest Highway at DART's White Rock train station, just west of Lawther. His option, ideally, would add a pedestrian-bicycle traffic signal on Northwest Highway.

...

Columbus Civil

White Rock Trail to remain open to bicycles despite Northwest Highway construction
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon....1322dc435.html

The White Rock Trail will not be closed Tuesday at Northwest Highway and West Lawther Drive to bike riders as previously planned, a Dallas Park and Recreation official said Monday.

The Texas Department of Transportation will soon release the solution that will keep the bike trail open, said Michael Hellmann, planning manager with the parks department.

...

__________________
Dallas uber alles

txRNGr

^ah, you beat me to it...good news though.

CasperITL

Why are TXDOT and city employees taking all the credit in that story? They were called to the carpet by BikeDFW, CC Young and the bike shop. CC Young has 80 employees that need access to the DART station. That is what is really kept the crossing open. The largest employer in that part of Dallas put their foot down. The city did nothing. They just shrugged their shoulders and blamed TXDOT.

The crossing really has little to do with cyclists since the majority of the traffic is on foot. Its just that cyclists can organize better and know how to work with government.

Without CC Young, the closure would have been permanent.

Forrest Gump

TX DOT changes plans for White Rock Trail

http://www.lakehighlandstoday.com/i...ite_rock_trail/

Jul 12 2010, 10:00 pm by LHT Staff
TX DOT to keep White Rock Trail open With almost every construction project, plans change.

The Northwest Highway project is no different.

LH Today has learned, like anyone else who ventured across Northwest Highway on White Rock Trial today, that after reviewing several possible scenarios, TX DOT has changed its original plans.

Those plans called for a complete halt to both north and southbound traffic through the intersection of Northwest Highway and Lawther for the better part of two years.

The two year closure would have included not only automobile traffic, but also access for pedestrians and cyclists on the highly-traveled White Rock Trail.

TX DOT sited safety concerns as the main reason for the complete closure of the intersection.

However, after meeting with officials from the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation department, and the construction company handling the project, TX DOT is now considering several options which would allow White Rock Trail to remain open for business.

Boyd Wallace, the owner of Dallas Bike Works who recently expanded his business to include a second location in Lake Highlands, was alarmed when he first heard of the closure.

"The news set us back a bit, but I’m really glad TX DOT heard what everyone had to say and has changed their plans," said Wallace. "Huge relief, really. I mean, it would be one thing if they closed for a few days here and there but for two straight years – that would have been painful."

"I appreciate their willingness to be flexible."

While plans aren’t finalized, according to Michael Hellman, parks planning manager for the City of Dallas Parks and Recreation Department, serious consideration is being given to a covered tunnel scenario.

"The goal is to keep the trail flowing," said Hellman late today. "Nothing is etched in stone yet, but we are confident we can keep the trail open."

Beginning Tuesday morning, July 13th, the traffic closure will commence. However, the section of White Rock Trail that crosses over Northwest Highway will remain open and unaltered for the time being.

All asphalt at the intersection will be removed, with the exception the trail's, which will remain untouched until the progress is made concerning the tunnel scenario.

When the time is right, those covered tunnels would be put in place running east and west along either side of the highway and connecting underneath the new bridge structure, which is currently in place.

While cyclists will be encouraged to dismount their bikes before entering the tunnels, the inconvenience of the short walk is nothing compared to frustration associated with long-term, full closure of the trail.

Keep in mind, however, that with every construction project, things change.

Here's hoping that these plans stick.

In the meantime, go ride a bike…and don’t forget to stop by Dallas Bike Works while you're at it! Want to comment on this article? You'll need to register as a member.

Forrest Gump

Workers clearing and widening the sidewalk area on the south side of Northwest Highway from the traffic light at the Dart Station down to the Centennial liquor store which would appear to be making way for a temporary detour trail while construction continues.

If this is the case work will also need to be done on the north side of NW Hwy close to Lawther as there is really no trail in that small section.