Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kennedale council approves design contract for Little School Road, funds T3 tank rehabilitation design
Summary
The Kennedale City Council on Dec. 16 approved a professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols to design Phase 1 of the Little School Road extension and approved a separate PSA to begin design and permitting work for rehabilitation of the city's T3 elevated storage tank. Both votes were unanimous.
KENNEDALE, Texas ' Dec. 16, 2025 ' The Kennedale City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to hire engineering firm Freese and Nichols to design Phase 1 of the Little School Road extension and to begin design work for rehabilitation of the city's T3 elevated water-storage tank.
Council approved a professional services agreement for the Little School Road project, which staff described as the design from Kennedale Parkway to New Hope Road. Staff said the Tarrant County Transportation Fund has pledged $6,180,000 toward the project and that the overall project cost is currently estimated at about $58,000,000. Staff and the consultant said Phase 1 design would include analysis of a railroad crossing, truck turning movements and whether a roundabout or signal is the better long-term solution at key intersections. Consultant Christian of Freese and Nichols summarized the request as a step to move the project from planning to detailed design so construction can follow in later phases.
"This first phase would be from Kennedale Parkway to New Hope Road," Christian said, explaining the PSA covers design work and special services to produce bid documents.
During discussion council members pressed for careful roundabout design to accommodate large vehicles and race-car trailers accessing a nearby racetrack, and staff said the PSA includes traffic analysis to compare roundabout versus signal alternatives and to evaluate truck aprons and sight lines.
Council also approved a PSA with Freese and Nichols for the T3 elevated storage tank rehabilitation. Staff described water-quality problems and mechanical issues at the tank, including failing cathodic protection and safety problems with vents and ladders that have accumulated without routine maintenance. The design fee in the packet was presented as roughly $360,000; staff said full rehabilitation, including construction, could be in the neighborhood of $2.2 million but that the city has identified about $1.9 million toward the project and will refine estimates during design.
"We haven't had maintenance on that tank since it was installed back in the 2000s," the project presenter said, recommending design and permitting work begin now so construction can occur outside peak summer demand.
Both professional-services agreements passed on unanimous votes. Councilmembers and staff said the votes authorize design, permitting and procurement work; separate future votes will be required to award construction contracts.
What's next: The Little School Road PSA advances design planning and traffic analysis; staff said they will return to council with construction bids and funding plans. For the T3 tank, staff expect to complete design and bid documents in 2026 and then return to council for construction contract approval.
