It’s a big deal.
The long-awaited project which will transform the face of downtown and central Rockdale like no other in the past 70 years is expected to start in October.
When it’s completed the three blocks of Cameron Avenue (US 79) between Green and Burleson will become a showpiece, instead of what they are now.
Which is something less than a showpiece.
That project will take about 18 months to complete, according to the Texas Dept. of Transportation. In addition to downtown, City Manager Barbara Holly said it and will include a tw0-mile-long US 79 renovation that includes a sidewalk on the south side of the highway between City Hall and Dollar General.
LANE CHANGE—A major feature of the “facelift” will be the re-striping of US 79 in the downtown are from the current four lanes to three lanes, two for traffic and a center left-turn-only lane. That preserves parking in that area. An early version of options
An early version of options restricted or eliminated parking along the highway in some parts of downtown, drawing opposition from business owners.
According to the city’s 2017 grant application, it will eliminate the potential tripping hazards on current sidewalks by creating a uniform grade along the walking route and entrances to businesses.
The project will provide 1,300 linear feet of 14-foot wide, six-inch steel reinforced concrete sidewalks on both sides of the street.
It will include “Central Park” style light poles and “acorn” luminaries.
There will be benches, ADA-compliant ramps, curbs, striping and “bump outs.”
Those are rounded, extended curbs, a common method of calming traffic and shortening the street crossing distance for pedestrians.
The new traffic pattern will narrow the driving surface of US 77 which will continue to facilitate the long-time “angle parking,” which will remain downtown.
GRANTS—In October, 2017, the City of Rockdale landed its long-sought $1,276,960 Texas Dept. of Transportation Set-Aside Grant, which provided funds for the new sidewalks
In June of that year, the Texas Dept. of Agriculture released funds for a previously assured $150,000 grant for sidewalk renovation.
Holly said the two projects have since been combined with the Rockdale MDD assisting in sidewalk funding.
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