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Council briefing highlights planned erosion mitigation on Balcones Trail; closure expected up to 45 days
Summary
City staff described a planned change order to address a growing erosion feature along Balcones Trail that staff says has undermined the trail and is moving toward the roadway; the work would close the trail section and take about 30–45 days once the city issues a notice to proceed.
City staff on Tuesday described a proposed change order to repair an erosion feature along Balcones Trail that has widened and deepened near the New Clark Road approach to High Point, saying the work will require temporarily closing that section of the trail.
Sean Ray, who the city asked to brief council, said the affected area is roughly 125 yards long, 25–30 feet wide and has developed a depth of about 18–20 feet that is migrating toward the roadway. "The water from the roadway, as well as New Clark, has kind of knocked out that area and is undermining the trail and migrating toward the roadway," Ray said.
Ray told council the immediate scope would require moving equipment and material from the roadway and that the city expects the contractor to need about "a 30 to 45 day project once we give them the notice to proceed." He added that staff hopes to begin within the next month and a half depending on council direction.
Councilor Hayden asked whether the trail would need to be closed during the work; Ray confirmed that section will be closed for safety while crews operate and implement traffic controls.
Councilman McCurdy raised a related safety concern about a separate stretch near a retaining wall used by the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood and asked whether guardrail work could be added to the same contract. Ray said Texas Department of Transportation officials were not willing to perform the guardrail installation, and that the city is moving forward with design for roughly 75–80 feet of guardrail as a separate project and funding effort rather than part of the immediate change order.
The briefing packet listed the item as a proposed change order with Access Contracting for erosion mitigation along Balcones Trail; staff described the work as addressing a longstanding localized issue referred to as the "plunge pool." Council members asked scheduling and closure questions but no formal vote on the change order was recorded during the briefing. The item remained on the agenda for consideration during the regular meeting that followed.
The briefing also noted that the mailbox replacement agreement for Public Improvement District No. 1 and other consent items would be acted on during the regular meeting.
Next steps: council will consider authorization of the change order during the council’s formal agenda; staff will finalize contract terms, traffic control plans and a notice-to-proceed date if the council approves the work.
