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

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

Median Plan

Crews began work this week on 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 October 2011.

In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently began installing landscaping along the entire FM 2499 corridor, the Town’s primary north-south transportation route. Utilizing $570,000 in state Green Ribbon Funding, TxDOT will be installing shade and ornamental trees and irrigation. The project is scheduled to be complete in late 2010.

Posted 08/06/2010.