Trophy Club council reviews Bobcat Boulevard roundabout plan, asks for two‑lane access and pedestrian safeguards

Trophy Club, Texas — Town engineers and consultants presented a schematic design Nov. 10 for a roundabout at Marshall Creek Road and lane modifications along Bobcat Boulevard, and council members asked staff to preserve or create two-lane ingress from Marshall Creek and to plan for pedestrian safety and utility relocations.

Phil (town engineer) told the Town Council the project would place a one-lane roundabout on the north and south approaches with two-lane approaches on the east and west, and would add a left-turn lane at High School Drive Number 4. “The plan is to shut down this intersection to one side,” Phil said, adding that Schooling Road would serve as the detour during construction. He gave a tentative schedule that would put construction from June 2026 to June 2027 and said 50% construction documents are expected in December 2025 with bidding in March 2026.

The why: the council was briefed that the changes aim to improve traffic flow and safety where Bobcat intersects Marshall Creek and nearby school access points. Phil described pedestrian routing that would remove an east-side crosswalk and direct crossings to High School Drive Number 3 and other controlled locations, saying crosswalks would not be installed through the roundabout itself.

Council members raised specific traffic and operational concerns. One council member warned that restricting the Marshall Creek approach to a single ingress lane could force drivers turning right or left to yield across two lanes and cause backups during events and high volumes. “You’re going to have to yield to that traffic,” Phil said in response, noting that roundabouts require yielding and that the design team will evaluate whether the Marshall Creek approach can be designed to allow two incoming lanes that collapse to one.

Council members also pressed on heavy‑vehicle movements and median design. The consultant said the roundabout apron and rolled curb are sized to accommodate 18‑wheelers and that the team will consider median finishes and materials that can be driven on with less long‑term damage. On pedestrian controls near the high school and upcoming stadium, staff said they will coordinate land‑use and access with Northwest ISD and the city of Roanoke and meet with the district about potential right‑of‑way and crossing locations.

Budget and funding: Phil said the project’s total budget is $4,500,000, with a TFP contract line shown as $686,000 and approximately $3.8 million remaining in the town budget for the project. He also said about $2,000,000 of construction costs (roughly 50% of estimated construction costs) are expected to be covered by a Denton County grant, subject to eligibility and final cost breakdowns.

Schedule and risks: staff warned that the timeline depends on utility relocations (a 12‑inch water line, gas and primary electrical lines were cited), land acquisitions and franchise utility schedules. Phil said letters to franchise utilities will go out promptly to coordinate relocations; the council noted that utility delays and unforeseen underground conditions have affected prior roundabout work in 2013–2014.

What’s next: staff said they will evaluate the feasibility of a two‑lane ingress from Marshall Creek, look at acquiring additional right‑of‑way to accommodate sidewalks and future amenities, consider softer landscaping and fencing to deter mid‑roundabout pedestrian crossings, finalize the photometric lighting plan with Encore, and continue coordination with Northwest ISD. The town adjourned the workshop portion at 6:40 p.m.