Council hears Highland Shores Boulevard reconstruction plan, roundabout proposal and $10.8M planning estimate

City staff presented updated designs and cost planning for a multi‑segment reconstruction of Highland Shores Boulevard at the Highland Village City Council meeting on June 10, urging council feedback on several features including a proposed roundabout at Hillside, continuous sidewalks, 7‑ to 8‑foot bike lanes and targeted drainage fixes.

Why it matters: the roadway is a principal neighborhood corridor with aging pavement, varying right‑of‑way widths and drainage/groundwater issues; the reconstruction is intended to provide a consistent cross section, safer pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and longer-lasting concrete pavement where appropriate.

Project scope and design highlights - Corridor approach: staff split the corridor into three design segments (rural bar‑ditch asphalt at one end, an urban curb‑and‑gutter middle section, and a more built-up section along the east end). Plans call for a consistent cross section with a dedicated bike lane and added or repaired sidewalks on both sides of the road where feasible. - Hillside intersection: staff proposed a single-lane roundabout at Highland Shores and Hillside (replacing an existing four‑way stop), with pedestrian crossings located outside the circulating lanes and a widened shared path across the roundabout approaches. Staff said the design can be implemented within available right‑of‑way in most places and would employ ADA-compliant ramps where bike lanes tie into sidewalks. - Safety and drainage: the geotechnical review identified groundwater and subgrade‑related pavement failures that staff propose to remediate. Two culvert crossings on the corridor are inspected by TxDOT as bridges and will be addressed under the design. Staff also proposed removing some existing “crosswalks to nowhere” that fail to meet ADA standards and improving sight lines at problem intersections.

Costs, funding and schedule - Planning estimates presented to council show a 2021 estimate near $9 million that staff escalated with a 20% contingency to arrive at a current planning figure of about $10.8 million for the total bundle of corridor work. - Denton County’s voter-approved bond program had included county funding for projects in Highland Village; staff said county proceeds were expected to cover roughly 50% of the city’s requested amount but that staff would confirm how much of any inflation-driven increase the county would absorb. Staff also noted there is bond interest available in the city’s accounts from prior bond proceeds. - Schedule: staff said design is roughly 60–75% complete for the corridor; if funding approvals and bid timing align, construction could begin late this year or in early 2026 and span about a year to a year‑and‑a‑half, depending on phasing and coordination with other nearby projects (TxDOT FM 407 work was cited as a nearby project that could affect traffic during construction).

Council concerns and discussion items - Several councilmembers asked that staff consider traffic control impacts, overlapping construction with other projects (to avoid gridlock), and the need for clear public communications about closures and detours if the project proceeds. - Multiple members suggested enhanced crosswalk treatments (lighting/active warnings) at mid‑corridor pedestrian crossings that will remain stop‑free, and asked staff to consider landscaping and “place‑making” within any roundabout center islands that may be visible to corridor users.

Next steps - Staff will finalize design comments, confirm funding shares with Denton County and the city’s finance office, and return to council with bond‑packaging details in the September/October bond presentation schedule. Staff said they will bring the drainage design contract forward for council consideration shortly.

Ending: With design at 60–75%, staff sought final council direction on the roundabout and enhanced pedestrian crossing locations before further work that would increase engineering costs; the council provided input and asked staff to return with funding details and a communications plan ahead of any construction authorization.