Starting the morning of Nov. 10, an extended full road closure will take effect on Wycliffe Avenue at its intersections with Lakeside Drive, St. Johns Drive and Turtle Creek Boulevard for a reconstruction project.
For the next 20 to 24 months, the road closures will allow for the Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project, in which the existing dam between St. John’s and Lakeside Drive will be removed and rebuilt as a bridge.
The Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project will enhance public safety, modernize aging infrastructure and improve flood mitigation, traffic flow and long-term community resilience, town officials say.
According to the Town of Highland Park, the existing dam was previously classified as “high hazard” by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
FEMA said that under the national dam safety standards, a high-hazard classification indicates that any dam failure is expected to result in loss of human life.
The goal of town officials for the project is that the dam can be reclassified as “low-hazard” — a designation reserved for sites where no loss of life is expected in the event of failure.
Apart from mitigating flood risk, the Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project will also upgrade the area’s water drainage system, replace underground utilities, and create safer, easier routes for local traffic.
During the closure, motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are encouraged to plan alternate routes and factor any extra travel time into their daily commutes. Motorists are encouraged to drive with caution in the work zones.
The project is located less than a mile from the intersection of Fitzhugh Avenue and U.S. Highway 75 (Central Expressway).
Find more information and a comprehensive project overview at the Town of Highland Park website.
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