Town of Flower Mound, Texas

2121 Cross Timbers Road
Flower Mound, Texas 75028
972.874.6000

For service requests or questions, email
townhall@flower-mound.com
or call 972.539.SERV. After hours, please call 972.539.0525.

Morriss Road/Gerault Road Project

The contract for Phase 1 of the Morriss-Gerault Improvement Project was awarded to TISEO Paving, Inc. on March 1, 2010, and construction started April 19, 2010. Phase 1 work consists of adding two additional inside lanes (one northbound and one southbound) to Gerault Road between FM 2499 and FM 3040 and improving the intersections at FM 407, FM 1171 and FM 3040; additionally, traffic signals will be added to the intersections with Spinks Road, Garden Road, Sagebrush Drive and Buckeye. Phase 1 will also add landscaping to the medians, provide for new sidewalk in locations where there previously was no existing sidewalk, widen most existing sidewalks to six feet and replace existing wooden fences along the Morriss-Gerault corridor from FM 2499 to FM 407. The plans are available for viewing at the Engineering Department.

Project Status (January 2012)

Work at Morriss Road and FM 407 intersection to continue in January.
Work continues on sidewalks and irrigation.
Tree planting to continue in January.
Work continues on the fly over bridge at Gerault and FM 2499.

Public Meeting (November 2011)

Morris Road Presentation - 11/17/11 Town Council Worksession

Additional Cost Information - 11/17/11 Town Council Worksession

Landscaping on Morriss/Gerault Road to Improve Safety, Visibility, and Aesthetics

Median Plan

The median grading and landscaping improvements along the Morriss/Gerault Road designed to improve safety, visibility, and aesthetics for all motorists and pedestrians.

The Morriss/Gerault Road Phase I improvement project consists of the addition of two lanes of traffic along Gerault from FM 2499 to FM 3040, intersection and sidewalk improvements, and signal and signage upgrades. In addition, the design engineers conducted a visibility audit involving the medians and landscaping throughout the entire corridor and recommended modifications that will improve safety along the thoroughfare, while enhancing the natural beauty of the area.

As the elevation of several medians along the corridor currently obstructs visibility for motorists, grading work is underway to ensure their height is reduced to an acceptable level. While retaining the natural beauty of the corridor remains a priority, the Town was also forced to remove several trees from the median in order to achieve the highest safety level possible. To mitigate the loss, approximately 600 new trees and 400 new bushes will be planted in strategic locations along the roadway that will not interfere with motorist visibility.

All small width medians will be planted with groundcover or paved, all medium-width medians will be planted with groundcover and ornamental trees, and all large-width medians will contain grove shade trees accented with ornamental trees. All trees will be trimmed for visibility. In addition, all new trees planted within in the medians during the past two years will be saved and transplanted. The project also includes irrigation throughout the corridor to ensure all new landscaping features remain healthy.

The entire Morriss Road/Gerault Road Phase I project is funded through external revenue sources, including State Highway 121 Toll revenue, Denton County Roadway Bond revenue, and developer contributions. No Flower Mound ad valorem or sales tax funding is being utilized to make these improvements. The Morriss/Gerault Phase I project is scheduled to be complete in May 2012.

Public Meeting 12/01/09

The Town hosted a public meeting at 6 p.m. on December 1, 2009, at the Flower Mound Community Activity Center, 1200 Gerault Road, to review and discuss 90% design plans for the Morriss Road/Gerault Road Improvement Project. This meeting was an “open house” format with staff available for questions and answers. Project exhibits were available for viewing; however, the meeting did not include a slide presentation.

Public Meeting 11/10/09

Slide Presentation

Public Meeting 09/22/09

Slide Presentation

Proposed Pedestrian Crossing Improvements

Fencing 1

Fencing 2

Flyover Concepts

Landmark Tower Concept

Morriss Road Median Concept

09/22/09 Public Meeting Q&A

The 30% plans from the public meeting are available for viewing at the Engineering Office located at 1001 Cross Timbers, Ste. 2330.

Project History

Download the Fact Sheet.

Morriss/Gerault Road has been planned as a six-lane divided roadway for more than 27 years. Due to the foresight of the Town during previous planning efforts, the additional two lanes of Morriss/Gerault can be constructed within the existing median. No additional right-of-way will be required for the two new lanes because they will be constructed in the existing medians. However, intersection and safety improvements included in Phase 1 of the project will require additional right-of-way for items such as turn lanes, visibility clips, and structural elements.

In an effort to maximize the local travel options and attempt to meet current and projected traffic demands, the Town has planned its transportation system to provide multiple corridors for each commute direction. For residents traveling in a north-south orientation, the Town has planned three corridors including FM 2499 as a six-lane arterial, Morriss/Gerault as a six-lane arterial, and Garden Ridge as a four-lane arterial. Flower Mound Road and Kirkpatrick also support these movements locally, both as four-lane arterials.

For motorists commuting in an east-west pattern, the Town has planned for three corridors, including FM 3040 as a six-lane arterial, FM 1171 as a six-lane arterial, and FM 407 as a four-lane arterial. Spinks Road will also support east-west traffic flow as a four-lane arterial.

Even with these planned improvements to the Town’s thoroughfares, it is projected that by the year 2030, the southernmost segments of FM 2499, Gerault, and Garden Ridge will carry volumes that exceed the roadway capacity.

Morriss/Gerault Road Improvement Project Transportation Commission Recommendation / Town Council Public Hearing

The Flower Mound Transportation Commission hosted a workshop on April 21 and a public hearing on May 26 to solicit community feedback and formulate a recommendation to the Town Council regarding the proposed Morriss/Gerault Road improvement project. The resulting recommendation proposes actions to address a variety of issues including:

Replace existing perimeter screening fences with the Town-standard wooden fence, and/or explore other fencing options and other methods to mitigate sound impacts
Identify visibility issues that may create safety problems and identify solutions that consider both impacts and benefits, including access issues
Install trees, sod, irrigation, and decorative plantings in the medians and rights-of-way, with the focus being on the full-width median sections
Enhance the pedestrian routes throughout the corridor, specifically for school-related pedestrian activity to include pedestrian actuated flashers, reviewing the location of school cross walks, and reviewing with Lewisville Independent School District the pedestrian and vehicular access at schools

The Town Council held a public hearing regarding the project and to consider awarding a design contract during the June 15, 2009, regular meeting. To view the resolution that was made by the Town Council click here.

At the Town Council meeting on Monday, September 7, 2010, a new Morriss /Gerault resolution was adopted. To view the resolution click here.

The Project

DFW Connector Fly By Videos

DFW Connector Southbound

DFW Connector Eastbound

Transportation Corridors

Click to map to enlarge.

Plans to expand Morriss/Gerault are proceeding in conjunction with The Riverwalk at Central Park project. The Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) for The Riverwalk at Central Park project indicated that the level of service on Morriss/Gerault would be negatively impacted once this project was constructed. As a condition of the approval of this monumental project, the developer was required to contribute toward the expansion of the roadway in order to meet the recommendations from the TIA. This project, and the related TIA and Thoroughfare Plan, were also discussed at numerous Planning and Zoning, Town Council, and Transportation Commission meetings in 2008.

Morriss Road is not a residential street by definition. Any roadway in Flower Mound that is shown on the Master Thoroughfare Plan is considered a thoroughfare, not a residential or local commercial street. As described earlier, Morriss Road has been planned as a major arterial since 1981. Further, Morriss has been a four-lane arterial, with a wide median to accommodate two additional lanes, for many years. Gerault was widened to a four-lane divided arterial, with a wide median to accommodate an additional two lanes, in the late 1990s. This roadway has been planned and constructed to accommodate widening to a full Major Arterial to provide for improved commutes and traffic mobility through Flower Mound.

Schedule

Design work and project bidding occurred in June 2009. Construction began in June 2010 and is estimated to be completed in May 2012.

History

Morriss/Gerault road has been planned as a six-lane divided roadway for more than 27 years. Due to the foresight of the Town during previous planning efforts, the additional two lanes of Morriss/Gerault can be constructed within the existing median. No additional right-of-way will be required, and the roadway will not encroach upon neighboring homes.

As an integral north-south connection, the expansion of Morriss/Gerault was originally included in the Town’s 1981 Master Thoroughfare Plan, which is a component of the Comprehensive Master Plan. The Master Thoroughfare Plan was adopted again in 2000, 2004, and most recently in 2009, with no changes to the designation of Morriss and Gerault as Major Arterials.

Public Input

Resident feedback is always encouraged regarding projects that impact our community. As such, all of the Master Thoroughfare Plans involved opportunities for public input and comment.

Additional opportunity for public input was provided during the annual budget adoption process. The Town’s budget includes the Capital Improvement Program, which forecasts all Town-implemented projects for the next five years and beyond. During the Summer 2008 budget process, the widening of Morriss and Gerault was approved, with design to occur during the 2008-09 fiscal year and construction to begin in the following fiscal year, or as soon as design is complete.

The expansion of Morriss/Gerault was also included in the November 2008 Denton County roadway bond election, affording additional opportunity for public input. Denton County Commissioners Andy Eads and Bobbie Mitchell provided additional details to the public at the October 20, 2008, Town Council meeting outlining the roads contained within the bond program, including Morriss/Gerault. The Denton County roadway bond program was subsequently approved by Denton County voters on November 4, 2008.

Fuqua Drive Survey Results

The Town of Flower Mound Infrastructure Services Department conducted a survey to indentify neighborhood support for the installation of a curb extension on Fuqua Drive to allow only inbound traffic and prevent outbound traffic at the Fuqua/Morriss intersection, due to exiting site visibility concerns identified early in the project. The survey concluded Friday, August 5, 2011. The two options provided were:

Option 1- Installation of a curb extension on Fuqua to allow only inbound traffic and prevent outbound traffic at the Fuqua/Morriss intersection.

Option 2- No action – Leave Fuqua/Morriss intersection as is, but with added signage for motorist awareness.

The results of the survey were as follows:

284 surveys mailed
104 surveys returned
23 stated they wanted Option 1
81 stated they wanted Option 2

Based upon the results of the survey, the intersection of Fuqua/Morriss will remain unchanged. Additional signing will be installed along Morriss Road to warn motorists of the upcoming intersection.

Regional Mobility and Partnerships

A majority of motorists leaving Flower Mound in the morning and returning in the evening use a north-south path that includes either FM 2499 or Lakeside Parkway to SH 121. Ultimately, a majority of the traffic heading toward SH 121 will benefit from the recently funded DFW Connector project, which will make significant improvements to the SH 121/ SH 114 / IH-635 convergence that reaches from Flower Mound to Grapevine. For more information, visit http://www.dot.state.tx.us/project_information/projects/fort_worth/
dfw_connector/default.htm

Funding

The Town and its mobility partners are scheduled to receive approximately $125 million in funding from outside sources to assist in constructing these projects. Funding for this project is being provided from three sources. The first source is Denton County roadway bond funding, the second source is revenue from the SH 121 Tollway project, and the final source of funding is the developer of The Riverwalk at Central Park. No Town-initiated funding obligations have been utilized for this project.

School Zones

The Town of Flower Mound has a strong history of providing and preserving safe routes to schools. Though not required, the Town provides warning flashers at the beginning of school zones adjacent to school properties. The Town also dedicates significant manpower to ensure the safety of school zones, by providing crossing guards at designated school crossings and Police enforcement of reduced speed school zones. With the expansion of Morriss and Gerault to six lanes, the Town will evaluate additional improvements to ensure school zone safety. These improvements could include the installation of actuated flashers for mid-block school crossings, improvements to the below-grade trail crossing near Garden Road, and completion of missing sidewalk links.