Grapevine’s landscape enhancements icing on cake for DFW Connector project
For several years, drivers endured a painful commute through the massive reconstruction of Texas 114/121 in Grapevine.
But driving through Grapevine became a piece of cake in 2013 for many motorists after the completion of the $1 billion DFW Connector project in 2013.
The drive was easier but not the view because several areas throughout the DFW Connector corridor were not included in Texas Department of Transportation’s landscape plan.
The city wanted to enhance and soften the new roads through Grapevine, according to Kevin Mitchell, director of the city’s parks and recreation department.
So in 2013, the city selected Shrickle Rollins & Associates to design a native landscape plan for the corridor.
“The landscaping along the highway will be the icing on the cake,” Mitchell said of plans he released on Thursday.
Their plans took a big step forward at the May 19, 2015, City Council meeting when Jana Tidwell with Shrickle Rollins & Associates and staff presented the landscape concept plan for the SH114 corridor from Main Street west to William D. Tate Avenue.
This was selected as Phase I.
The project is funded by The Federal Highway Administration and TXDOT Green Ribbon program, two separate grants from the Governor’s Community Achievement Award and the city.
On June 2, 2015, the City Council adopted a resolution approving the Local Project Advance Funding Agreement with TXDOT to establish funding participation levels for the SH114 Green Ribbon Project Phase I.
Named SH114 Landscape Enhancements Phase I, the project is under construction along Main Street and William D. Tate Avenue.
Total contracted construction cost is $990,319: total federal and state funds of $770,000 or 78 percent; Green Ribbon Grant Funding totals $390,000; Governor’s Community Achievement Award totals $380,000 (sum of two awards); and total local participation funds: $220,319 or 22 percent.
This story was originally published August 16, 2016 at 1:47 PM with the headline "Grapevine’s landscape enhancements icing on cake for DFW Connector project."