Archives > News Update
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Long road home: Outer Loop alignment finally chosen
Illustration courtesy of Collin County - After months of deliberation and years of planning, the Collin County Toll Road Authority has finally chosen a route for the third section of the Outer Loop. The commissioners chose the brown route for the first section that runs from the Dallas North Tollway to FM 2478. They chose the purple route for the center section that runs from FM 2478 to FM 543 and the yellow route for the last section that runs from FM 543 to U.S. 75.
By Marthe Stinton, mstinton@acnpapers.com
COLLIN COUNTY -- After years of discussion, planning, investigation and public meetings, the Collin County Toll Road Authority has finally chosen an alignment for Segment Three of the Outer Loop.
Monday night, the county commissioners heard from the public regarding the proposed alignments and, in front of a standing-room-only crowd, made their decision on the proposed routes.
The commissioners chose the brown route for the first section that runs from the Dallas North Tollway to FM 2478. They chose the purple route for the center section that runs from FM 2478 to FM 543 and the yellow route for the last section that runs from FM 543 to U.S. 75.
However, commissioners have said they would not begin construction without considering the growth of the area and the need for the road.
"Now that we have a route, I think it's time to talk to landowners," said County Commissioner Joe Jaynes. "When we built the Dallas North Tollway extension, we saw a lot of developers come out and buy up huge tracts of land and I think, in the future, this could happen again out here."
The city of Celina had been making major preparations hoping to see the possible growth that is associated with a new thoroughfare. More than 10 years ago, the county's engineering department approached the Celina City Council asking for assistance in acquiring right-of-way donations.
"In that area, we looked at many alignments and, as you know, the premises of building roads, wherever the right-of-way is donated, is where the road goes," said county engineer Ruben Delgado. "That has happened with the Dallas North Tollway all the way to FM 428. So the city being proactive said, 'We are going to get whatever we can as far as the planning process of the area,' which leads to right-of-way donations. That's part of the proactive approach the city of Celina took."
Delgado said from S.H. 121 to U.S. 380, 98 percent of the right-of-way was donated and from U.S. 380 to 428, 39 out of 44 parcels were donated.
Celina Mayor Jim Lewis said the city had done what was asked by the county and voiced concern should the roadway take another route.
"When we brought the Carter Ranch Subdivision in, the county engineering asked the city to request right-of-way 200 feet from the Carter Ranch Subdivision and to help the county secure the road. We did," he said. "That has been about 10 years ago and that was at Mr. Delgado's request. So if the road no longer goes there, they are stuck with a 200-foot strip along the entire property that would be almost worthless."
Lewis said the only reason the council asked the developers to donate the land was at the request of the county. But the city had gone above and beyond that request and commandeered even more donated parcels.
"Quite frankly, the suggested brown route intersects Preston Road at a 90-degree angle," he said. "It makes sense to intersect two highways of that nature at 90-degree angles; if you don't, the property values are not that great. We only did what we were asked to do and now we are in a situation where we have asked homeowners to come together and donate land."
The commissioners voted to keep the proposed route.
"I think Celina's efforts had a lot to do with the route we chose," said County Judge Keith Self. "When you build a road, donated land is important. We now have to make the case to the landowners to get dedicated land. The center part is predicated on the landowners of the purple route. The decision has yet to mature to see where we can gain donated land."
The purple route cuts through a large portion of Colmena Ranch near Weston. The county said it has been working with Colmena to acquire the needed land.
"Colmena Ranch has the most land in the area and they prefer the southern route," Jaynes said. "But at the same time we had a couple of landowners that were willing to donate on the northern, green route. We wanted the purple route with the caveat that if we can't come to terms with them, then we will look at the green route."
Self said the roadway would be similar to Preston Road.
"To build a two-lane road between U.S. 75 and the Dallas North Tollway, the estimates are probably between $80 [million] and $90 million," he said. "We are talking about a major chunk of change for a two-lane road."
Click here to view a map of the Collin County Outer Loop.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News Update «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
