Mansfield council reviews US 287 southbound ramp funding agreement; design expected to take a year

City of Mansfield councilmembers reviewed a resolution approving an advanced funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to design and construct a US 287 southbound entrance ramp and discussed a separate professional services contract tied to the Heritage Parkway East/**** Price Road corridor.

The items (consent agenda items 25-6373 and 25-6374) were pulled for discussion at the council’s Jan. 13 work session. Councilmember Ms. Kaufman asked about the project timeline: "I I just wanted to find out when we expect for this project to begin and about how long it will take." City transportation staff replied, "The project will still at least be another year plus away until we can get the schematic, reviewed and approved by TxDOT, and be able to move forward and get the design pretty much complete." Staff added that construction cannot begin until TxDOT completes schematic review and design approvals.

Staff told council the traffic analysis supports adding a ramp to help mitigate congestion at the intersection but noted remaining constraints at the nearby bridge. Councilmember Ms. Bounds pressed for specifics on what is meant by "issues at the bridge, congestion at the bridge," and staff said they had only just received the traffic report and would follow up with the consultant to clarify whether planned corridor widening on US 287 could address existing bridge constraints.

On the separate item, staff described a resolution authorizing funding "in an amount not to exceed $643,540" and a professional services contract "in an amount not to exceed $393,540" for work on Heritage Parkway East and **** Price Road. Staff said the Heritage Parkway East project was selected for participation in a Tarrant County bond program (noted participation amount: $1,500,000) because it provides cross-jurisdictional connectivity and addresses congestion and safety at the Turner Warnell / Gerty Barrett intersection. Staff said design work for that project is starting now, with most of the year expected for design and plans to bid construction toward the end of the year.

Council directed staff to return with more detailed analysis of the ramp’s interim benefits and the bridge constraints so the council and the transportation subcommittee can evaluate cost benefits and how the ramp would function until larger corridor improvements are made.

The consent agenda, which included both resolutions, was approved later in the meeting as part of the consent vote (see Votes at a glance).