Median Landscaping Underway
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May 2013

Landscaping is now underway along the completed section of FM 740 from FM 3097 (Horizon Road) to FM 1140. Drought-resistant and native plants are being used to the greatest extent possible to achieve a hearty, yet vibrant streetscape.

Residents and visitors are enjoying the improved traffic flow in and out of Heath, as well as the additional two miles of trails the project brought into the City’s trail system.

The convenience will get even better with completion of the second phase of the FM 740 widening project. The road will be widened to four lanes from Heathland Crossing/FM 740 to FM 1140/Hubbard Drive. The City will gain an additional 3.1 miles of trails with a sidewalk on one side of the road, and a foot trail on the opposite side.

A contractor with be selected to relocate City utilities along the route of the project at the May 7 City Council meeting. TxDOT anticipates beginning construction in late 2014 and projects a completion date in 2016.
 

City of Heath Officials Join FM 740 Ribbon Cutting Celebration
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January 2013

Mayor Lorne Liechty and Councilmembers Bob Hille, Julie Zurek and Barry Brooks joined other Rockwall County leaders on January 18 for the official ribbon cutting of the newly-widened FM 740 from Horizon Road to Heathland Crossing. Mayor Liechty noted the event was an opportunity to celebrate the cooperation that exists among County communities and leaders to achieve road and infrastructure improvements that benefit all residents and support regional economic development. Special guests included U.S. Representative Ralph Hall and State Representative Scott Turner.

Second Phase of FM 740 Widening

The next phase of this important project involves widening FM 740 from Heathland Crossing/FM 740 to FM 1140/Hubbard Drive. The project is funded and expected to begin (insert date). Maps and drawings are available for public inspection and reproduction at the TxDOT Dallas District Office, 4777 E. Highway 80, Mesquite, Texas 75150 and online at www.keepitmovingdallas.com. You may also contact Brenda Callaway of TxDOT at 972-962-3671 for information.
 

PHASE I ? Horizon Road to Heathland Crossing/FM 740:
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October 2012

TxDOT plans to open the southbound (west) side of FM 740 on Monday, November 5.

The initial switch will open one lane southbound on the outside lane of the southbound side, and one lane northbound on the outside lane of the northbound side. This allows work to continue on the medians and on the median landscaping.

Drivers entering FM 740 from the western streets must stop at the stop sign prior to entering the southbound lanes, NOT near the median as was required during construction.

PHASE I ? Horizon Road to Heathland Crossing/FM 740:
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July 2012

This important TxDOT project remains on track for completion this fall. TxDOT?s contractor is currently taking care of the many details that go into preparing to pour concrete for the south-bound lanes. It is expected that the paving will begin later this month. Summer heat and other issues will determine what time of day the concrete will be poured.

PHASE II - Heathland Crossing/FM 740 to FM 1140/Hubbard Drive:
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July 2012

TxDOT will hold an Open House followed by a Public Hearing on the proposed improvements on Thursday, July 12 at the Rockwall-Heath High School Cafeteria located at 801 Laurence Drive. The Open House will be from 6 to 7 p.m. You will be able to review project exhibits, and TxDOT staff will be available to answer questions. The Public Hearing will begin at 7 p.m.

PHASE II - WIDENING OF FM 740
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May 2012

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will conduct a Public Hearing on Thursday, July 12, 2012, for the proposed improvements to Farm-to-Market (FM) 740/Laurence Road in Rockwall County, Texas. The proposed project limits extend along FM 740 for approximately 1.86 miles from FM 1140/Heathland Crossing south to FM 1140/Hubbard Drive.

Learn more...
 

PHASE I - WIDENING OF FM 740
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January 2012

This important project remains on schedule for completion in the Fall of 2012. During a recent Rockwall County Planning Consortium meeting, TxDOT representatives stated that the contractor plans to switch the traffic to the new pavement on FM 740 (Ridge Road) between FM 3097 (Horizon Road) and FM 1140 (Smirl Drive) soon.

The section of FM 740 now being widened will have six-foot sidewalks behind the curb on both sides of the new roadway.

March 9, 2011
Streetscape Median Concepts

Landscape Architects Cooper Design Works has put together a document outlining possible Streetscape Median Designs. You can download a copy of this 4mb PDF document here.

January 17, 2011
FM 740 Widening Project Update

The widening of FM 740 to four lanes from FM 3097 to Laurence Drive is on schedule with an expected completion date of August 2012.

The current traffic configuration will continue into the spring. FM 740 North will have periodic lane closures, but traffic will continue to flow through the construction area.

The timing of the FM 740 North/Summer Lee traffic signal was adjusted to better accommodate the flow of traffic and the lack of a left turn lane.

It is anticipated that one side of FM 740 (with 2 lanes, 1 in each direction) will be completed by the end of 2011. At that time, traffic will be diverted to the new side.

For more information, contact:
Darwin Meyers, TxDOT, @ 972.962.4039
Brenda Callaway, TxDOT, @ 972.962.3617

OCTOBER 11, 2010
FM-3097 Repairs begin

The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) has scheduled maintenance on FM-3097 from FM-740 (Ridge Road) to FM-549. Construction is scheduled to begin October 11.

The project includes repair of sections of pavement that are failing and overlay of the entire roadway. The roadway will be reduced to one lane between the hours of 9 AM and 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, to facilitate the construction. A flagman will be directing traffic throughout this time. Expect significant delays.

Construction on the project will be performed Monday through Friday only unless the project gets behind schedule or due to special circumstances. The construction time is 53 days (11 weeks), based on 5 days per week.

Please contact Kerry Lively, TXDOT Project Manager, at 214-893-0289 or Chuck Todd, Rockwall City Engineer, at 972-771-7746, with questions about the project.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

The utilities relocation phase of the project is complete, and construction has begun. The contractor for TXDOT has begun installing the detour to facilitate the removal of the existing roadway.

FM-740 will be reduced to one lane between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday, for three weeks, to facilitate the construction of the detour.

A flagman will be directing traffic throughout this time. Expect significant delays. Once the detour is constructed, the roadway will have two lanes open for traffic.

Construction on the project is to be performed only Monday through Friday unless the project gets behind schedule or due to special circumstances. The construction time is 476 days, based on 5 days per week.

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve our City.
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For project updates from TxDOT: Visit their dedicated page.

Scope of Project:
Phase I involves widening FM 740 from FM 3097 to Laurence Drive. City and county leaders are now working to ensure the funding for Phase II, which will widen FM 740 from Laurence Drive to the intersection of FM 549 and FM 550.

Overview Map of Project (PDF 485kb)
Detailed Traffic Control Map (PDF 762kb)

Project Completion:
The estimated completion date is June of 2012.

Project Contacts:
Kerry Lively, TXDOT Project Manager,
214-893-0289

Chuck Todd, Rockwall City Engineer,
972-771-7746

Project Background:
The widening of FM 740 was officially launched during a ground breaking ceremony on December 4, 2009.

Phase I involves widening FM 740 from FM 3097 to Laurence Drive. City and county leaders are now working to ensure the funding for Phase II, which will widen FM 740 from Laurence Drive to the intersection of FM 549 and FM 550.

?It is hard to overstate or overdramatize the significance of what the widening of FM 740 means to the City of Heath,? says Heath Mayor John Ratcliffe. ?This will have a profound economic impact and imprint on our community.?

?FM 740 isn?t just any artery of transportation through Heath, it is the main artery for our 7,400 residents to reach Rockwall and have access to I-30 or Forney and Highway 80,? he explains. ?By expanding FM 740 from two lanes to four lanes as Heath moves toward an estimated 20,000 residents by build-out, citizens and visitors will be ensured a more efficient and safe thoroughfare through the City.?

Mayor Ratcliffe adds that the most dramatic impact will be on economic development and economic diversification in a community that is now primarily residential. ?The road expansion will give Heath an expanded opportunity to diversify its tax base to include increased sales tax revenue and business ad valorum taxes as high quality retail and commercial businesses choose to move into the City.?