Copperas Cove city council to receive update on Business 190 median project

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

After years of planning, public meetings, hearings, and public comment periods, phase 1 of the Business Highway 190 median project in Copperas Cove is on track to get started in summer 2020. 

The project’s design is “close, but still being finalized,” said Kevin Keller, the city’s public information officer. 

On Tuesday evening, city manager Ryan Haverlah will provide the Coppersa Cove city council with an update on the project during the council's workshop at 5 p.m., to be held in the council chambers at 508 S. 2nd St.

In October 2018, the city council approved then-interim city manager Ryan Haverlah submitting a request to the Killeen Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization, the area entity receiving the submission of priority projects by area cities for the use of federal and state transportation dollars to be used on state roadways, to modify the project. Representatives from the cities and counties in the organization voted on the changes. 

The project modification included keeping three traffic lanes in each direction – the original project would have removed one lane in each direction – and also changing the shared-use pedestrian-bicycle walkway to a narrower pedestrian-only sidewalk and having the bicycle lane in the roadway. 

The design changes cost the city an additional $72,000, funding which came out of the $1,000,000 in bond funds the council approved for the city’s funds for the project. The nearly $10 million project, funded by federal and state transportation revenue, also includes the $420,000 in funds that are the Governor’s Community Achievement Awards won in 2013 and 2017 by the Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful commission, which will be used for terracing along the riprap located adjacent to Parnell Drive. 

After the finalization of the design, TxDOT is on track to let the project for bidding this spring. 

“Construction bid letting is anticipated for May 2020, with construction anticipated for July 2020; anticipated construction length of time is 15 months,” Keller said.

According to Keller, TxDOT will let the project for competitive sealed bids.

At this point, there won’t be any more public meeting, hearings, or formal comment period about the project.

“All requirements have been met and no further public meetings are anticipated,” Keller said. 

Among the requirements were public meetings and hearings. TxDOT, along with the city and the Killeen Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization, held a public meeting on May 31, 2018, which was attended by 140, with 101 of those being members of the public. 

Objections raised included impeding traffic flow due to the reduction of lanes, which element then was scrapped after the council authorized Haverlah to seek the above changes to the project. Other concerns expressed by the public were the potential effect the median will have on businesses which line the a little more than two miles of roadway. 

One comment expressed was that left turns that allow U-turns will need an over-run apron for larger vehicles such as medium class and commercial type vehicles, and vehicles like fire trucks. TxDOT’s response was that adequate turning radii are provided for larger vehicles and that trucks with trailers will utilize an alternative route.

One resident, Doug Hadiel, said that the eastbound lane needs a dedicated U-turn lane by Constitution to get back. TxDOT’s response was that a U-turn is currently allowed at this intersection and will remain in the final design.

A public hearing for the project was held on Feb. 12, 2019, which was attended by  a total of 90 members of the public, with nine speaking publicly at the hearing. 

According to the meeting summary published by TxDOT, of those nine commenting during the hearing, six had negative comments about the project, two had positive comments, and one was neutral. TxDOT received a total of 36 written public comments, with 12 negative, 12 positive, and 12 neutral comments. 

Wendi Page, property manager for O’Reilly Auto Parts, submitted a written comment to TxDOT and expressed concerns that could impact that business, located at 1537 East Business 190. 

Page requested that at least a left turn pocket, or a curb cut in the entrance to their business, be maintained to provide an option for eastbound traffic besides attempting a U-turn down the street or choosing an auto parts store with a more accessible area. 

As with the comments for the May 31 public meeting, TxDOT’s response to Page was that that adequate turning radii are provided for larger vehicles and that trucks with trailers will utilize an alternative route.