Council approves $1.72 million contract for FM‑685/Kelly Lane frontage‑road improvements

Council approved a $1,715,086.75 construction agreement with Joe Bland Construction LLC on Aug. 11 to build frontage‑road improvements at FM‑685 and Kelly Lane.

Brad Lammy, the project representative, explained the design changes that increase left‑turn capacity (including adding dual left turns on some movements) and widen turnaround lanes to create usable landing zones for left turns. Council members asked whether eastbound traffic would gain an additional left‑turn lane and whether u‑turn movements and yield control would change; Lammy confirmed the new schematic provides a dual left for eastbound to northbound and additional runway for turnaround operations.

Council moved and seconded the contract award; the motion passed with a 6–0 vote. Staff and council discussed a contractor schedule that estimated about 150 days to substantial completion (roughly three months) and about 160 days to final completion, with council members expressing interest in holding the contractor to the schedule.

What happens next: City staff will execute the contract and monitor construction; council said it expects staff to track schedule performance and hold the contractor to stated timelines.