Council approves temporary lower speed limit on I‑30 frontage roads during reconstruction

The Rockwall City Council on April 7 adopted an ordinance temporarily reducing the speed limit on the Interstate 30 frontage roads within the city's corporate limits to improve safety during a major reconstruction project.

City staff described that the frontage-road work will result in a temporary driving surface and altered traffic patterns from the Lake Pointe Church area down to the shopping centers near Freebirds, with some business driveways impacted for the duration of the year. Staff said Home Depot's main driveway will be closed for the year and that drivers and businesses will need to adapt.

Explaining the rationale, staff said: "we specifically talk to them about wanting to lower the speed limit on the service road so that people can especially come back out of the shopping centers and get up onto that new surface, which is again temporary." The council discussion emphasized worker safety and traffic management during long-duration construction.

Councilmember Lewis said reducing the speed limit would create a safer environment for construction crews and motorists, adding: "The number 1 thing at all these projects is that those men and women who work on those projects go home at night to their families uninjured and alive." Councilmembers agreed the change should help maintain public safety and reduce the risk to workers and drivers.

The ordinance, read into the record, cites Transportation Code section 545.356 and provides for a penalty not to exceed $200 per offense. The measure passed on a 6-0 vote with one member absent. Staff said the Texas Department of Transportation will separately consider a change to the posted speed limit on I‑30 itself.

The city said it had met with affected businesses to coordinate traffic impacts and recommended motorists use alternate access points such as Ralph Hall to enter shopping areas while construction is underway.