Roundabout construction makes life hard for one Colleyville resident

By Nicholas Sakelaris

nsakelaris@star-telegram.com

COLLEYVILLE — Dust, noise and severed utility lines have become a part of life for Edward Mitchell since construction started on the roundabout at John McCain and Pleasant Run Roads in June.

Piles of dirt can be seen on both sides of Mitchell's lot at the northwest corner of the intersection, remnants of months of utility relocations.

Mitchell said the dust gets so bad it clogs the filter on his pool, destroyed his pool pump and forces him to change his home's filter on a weekly basis. His vehicles constantly need washing.

"When the wind blows, it's like a dust storm down here," Mitchell said.

Temporary asphalt lanes cut through portions of what was once Mitchell's front yard, land Colleyville seized through eminent domain. The new traffic alignment puts traffic closer to one of his driveways, making it harder to get out during rush hour. The Verizon line has been cut seven times, interrupting Internet, cable television and home phone service, sometimes for days, Mitchell said.

Mitchell has taken the city to court to continue fighting the eminent domain case.

In the meantime, many of his concerns about the intersection persist.

Among other things, he's asked for a screening wall.

"It's not about getting something extra or getting something for free. It's all about protecting my family from these dangerous cars," Mitchell said. "It makes it difficult to sleep with the fear that one of those cars or big trucks are going to come through my bedroom wall or window."

Colleyville spokeswoman Mona Gandy said the city has not received any complaints about dust from Mitchell or other homeowners.

"Dust control is part of any project, and the contractor is using appropriate and adequate dust control methods here," Gandy said.

Construction is expected to be completed by February on the $973,716 project. In addition to the single-lane roundabout, right-turn lanes will be built so Pleasant Run Road traffic can turn onto John McCain Road.

When asked about traffic concerns, Gandy said Colleyville designed the roundabout to calm traffic and relieve congestion for the safety of the drivers and the neighbors.

"While the city has been unable to accommodate the Mitchell's demands for a costly decorative, masonry wall on their property, the city has offered additional, safety-based alternatives, which were rejected by the Mitchells," she said.

Mitchell said he supports the roundabout but doesn't want the guard rail in front of his house that has been offered.

"That doesn't fit in with the city of Colleyville," he said. "They want to mimic Southlake so much yet when it comes to spending money, they always want to balk at that."

Across the street, Tonia Goin said she also has been inconvenienced by the construction.

"Verizon has been out here seven times to repair the cable that they've dug up," Goin said. "Everything would just go off."

After Goin's stone mailbox was destroyed, a temporary one was built in its place. The contractor promised to build a new stone mailbox, but Goin said she hasn't been contacted about when that will happen.

The mailbox was removed because it was within the construction zone and will be replaced when construction is complete in February, Gandy said.

Sidewalks will be constructed on all corners of the intersection, though they won't connect to anything, yet.

Court case

The City Council voted in March to use eminent domain to seize 15,272-square-feet of land from Mitchell. It was the first time in 12 years that Colleyville used eminent domain.

Later that month, Colleyville was awarded the land for the roundabout and Mitchell received $90,222, including compensation to rebuild a portion of one of the driveways. City officials blamed Mitchell for delaying the start of construction about six month.

"Compensation for the portion of the driveway that is on private property was provided for in the right-of-way acquisition offered by the city and approved by the special commissioners court," Gandy said.

But Mitchell filed an objection in Tarrant County Court and he said he intends to have a trial by jury.

The court has not yet set a trial date, said Matthew Boyle, Colleyville's city attorney.

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