TxDOT to begin construction on Woodall Rodgers Deck Park

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — Construction staging started yesterday on the 5.2-acre deck park that will bridge over Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets in downtown Dallas. The Harwood Street bridge and St. Paul exit ramp are officially closed for demolition, scheduled to begin this weekend, according to TxDOT.

“As we watch construction begin, it’s a time to celebrate Dallas’ generosity,” said Linda Owen, president of the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. “The park will be a feat of engineering and we will all watch with anticipation, curiosity, and wonder as this bridge park comes together.”

TxDOT will work with the selected general contractor, Archer Western, to manage the construction schedule. Weather permitting, the Harwood bridge will be removed on the weekend of Oct. 23. The St. Paul exit ramp is slated to be removed on the weekend of Oct. 30 and will remain closed for approximately 8 months.

“As construction begins, we look forward to the many transportation enhancements that the park will bring to this corridor of downtown,” said Owen. “In the long term, we will see improved pedestrian and bicycle access, signal lights, crosswalks, ADA accessibility ramps, public transportation such as the trolley and DART stops, and improved lane flow into and out of downtown.”

The St. Paul off ramp will be straightened from its current radius ramp movement. This will allow a left turn from St. Paul onto the eastbound frontage road, which is currently not permitted. The improvement will allow access to the Arts District from St. Paul and eliminates the need to travel into downtown to reach Akard. Harwood Street will be closed to create a pedestrian bridge and great lawn.

The new website, www.theparkdallas.org, launched this week to keep Dallas informed on the latest news and construction progress. The site was created by Dallas web development company, The Old State, and includes many features designed to build an active community who will enjoy the park upon completion.

Those interested in The Park can sign up to receive a monthly e-newsletter, follow @TheParkDallas on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook or join the conversation on “Common Ground,” the park’s new blog. Photo galleries, site plans, and a virtual fly through are also available to encourage visitors to imagine how they will use The Park in 2012. Downloads of high res images, brochures, and more are available upon password request. TxDOT mobility information, including lane closures, will soon be added to the site.

The Park is expected be complete in late 2011 with amenities complete in 2012.

Source: Jackson Spalding

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