Keller outlines South Elm Street reconstruction; contractor to mobilize March 24

City of Keller staff and the project contractor presented details of the South Elm Street reconstruction at a preconstruction kickoff meeting, saying contractor mobilization is scheduled to begin March 24 and that major construction will follow in mid‑April.

The project covers South Elm Street from the existing roundabout to about 1709 South Elm Street and includes street reconstruction, wide sidewalks and pedestrian amenities, a new elevated bridge to prevent overtopping, undergrounding of overhead utility mains, decorative concrete surfaces and new wayfinding signs. City staff said the overall construction period is expected to last about three years.

The project matters because it replaces aging utilities that currently contribute to flooding, relocates major overhead lines into an 18‑conduit duct bank, and will substantially alter traffic and parking in Old Town during construction. Alonzo Lignon, public works director for Keller, opened the meeting and introduced the project team, saying the kickoff exists to put city and contractor contact information in front of residents and business owners.

Project scope and major components were explained by the consulting project lead (identified in the meeting as a representative of the consulting team). The speaker outlined the route limits, pedestrian-scale bridge renderings and streetscape elements intended to match the nearby Bates/Bay Street finishes. The consultant noted that nearly all overhead main lines will be relocated underground but that individual service poles serving private buildings may remain unless property owners coordinate a separate underground service conversion.

City staff and contractor representatives described early sequencing: utility work — water, sewer and the duct bank for electrical and communications lines — will be the first major phase, followed by road reconstruction and installation of decorative concrete and streetscape elements. The consultant warned residents that decorative concrete requires hand placement and longer cure times than standard paving, explaining this can create visible periods of inactivity while sections cure.

Traffic control and access: officials said the project team will try to keep South Elm Street open for southbound traffic through as much of the schedule as possible, but side‑street approaches and driveway ties will be closed intermittently to install utilities and tie into existing infrastructure. The team emphasized that property access for residents and employees will be maintained and that driveway closures will be coordinated in advance.

Parking and staging: the city obtained a portion of the Keller Church of Christ parking lot; staff said council previously approved dollars to build a replacement parking area on Pecan Street but that the site plan and exact number of stalls remain to be decided. The presentation included a small interim lot (described in the meeting as about 16 stalls) that will be used early in construction and a larger lot to be reconstructed later in the project once final council decisions and design details are completed.

Schedule and communications: Noel, identified as the contractor’s on‑site representative, said, “March 24 is mobilizing, setting up surveys, erosion control, doing some clearing,” and that heavier work would start in mid‑April. City staff said a site trailer will be placed off Pecan Street for posted office hours and in‑person questions, material staging will be fenced, and the contractor and design team will be reachable by text and phone. Staff also said the city will use Keller Connect emails, the city Facebook page and periodic public information meetings to update the public.

Construction impacts the team highlighted include: intermittent loss of on‑street parking where utility trenches are installed, temporary closures of the bridge and the stretch between the roundabout and Riverdance Way while the new bridge is installed, and potential weather‑related delays. Officials said they will try to limit the number of simultaneous street closures and to notify businesses when a side approach will be closed for events.

The meeting ended with staff and the contractor remaining for a Q&A and offering business and resident outreach options. City staff invited attendees to collect contact cards at the site trailer and to request follow‑up meetings with merchants or neighborhood groups as needed.