Michael Piers, the city’s project manager, briefed the Public Works committee on June 23 about a slate of projects across Dallas, including completed park work, new trails, sewer lining, waterline replacement and school-area sidewalk and paving work.

He said Lone Oak Park is complete, Forester Creek Trails construction will begin this week with removal and replacement on the south side of the creek and a new trail to the Japanese Garden, and that the cured-in-place sewer-lining project was finished on several streets to restore pipe integrity without reducing capacity.

Nut graf: The project manager presented multiple simultaneous public-works efforts meant to address infrastructure (water and sewer), active transportation (sidewalks and safe routes to school) and parks, while also balancing resident outreach and traffic disruption this summer.

On the Hawthorne (Lockrail node) sewer project, Piers said the city has held multiple community meetings — one in initial design and a later, well-attended session when the Lockrail master plan came before council — and that 50 to 75 residents attended the neighborhood meeting. He said some neighbors mistakenly thought the sewer project would build new sidewalks, require right-of-way expansions or force fence removals; Piers said the city clarified it is “simply coming in, putting a sewer line in the road, and extending laterals” and is not requiring connections or annexation.

Because heavy equipment is affecting pavement, Piers and other staff said they anticipate a change order to grind and repave the road after construction rather than make only trench patches. That repaving will also address a county condition in the intergovernmental maintenance agreement that requires resurfacing within seven years.

Other project notes: Phase 5 paving includes sidewalks around Dallas High School and repaving of Holman and Howe with ADA curb ramp upgrades and a bulb-out with flashing beacon at the athletic entrance as part of Safe Routes to School work. Douglas Waterline replacement (eight-inch) from Ellendale to near Byers Lane will begin July 7 under contract with Owen Construction. Barnard Park (John C. Barnard Memorial Park) is about 25% complete with a regulation-size basketball court, multiple trails and accessible-playground elements; the city received a grant for a rubber-matted accessible play area.

Traffic and temporary access: Piers described temporary access for Hawthorne residents via Golden Chain while Ellendale work proceeds and said a four-way stop will be advertised and installed at LocReal and Miller to calm traffic in the summer. The city will use website posts, social media and door hangers to notify residents but warned that some residents still may not receive or act on notices.

Discussion (not a vote): councilors asked whether notices and outreach were adequate and whether the contractor is accommodating resident access; Piers said the contractor has been flexible and the city will advertise detours, ADA improvements, and timing for repaving.

Ending: Multiple projects will be underway through summer and into fall, with repaving and ADA work planned after heavy-construction activities; staff asked for patience from residents and will continue outreach.