Southbound riders emerging from the new underpass. See the pickup?
We’ve heard how delighted trail users are with the new section of the White Rock Creek Trail under Northwest Highway at West Lawther drive. Although not officially open (see photos), neither the contractor nor TxDOT have (so far) been inclined to force people off of it.
Coming from the north, this is the first Trail Closed sign to negotiate.
This sign is closer to the construction.
Trail closed sign approaching from the south.
We think this is great, especially for weekend use! Allowing early access to the underpass is much safer than continuing to use the NW Hwy/DART station detour, which has been the bane of trail users for the last two years. However, this situation could change and it is important that trail users don’t jeopardize this largess.
It is obvious that there is still much construction work that needs to be done. There are workers and heavy machinery along (and sometimes on) the trail. Please be extremely cautious when riding or walking through this area and be courteous to the workers. If everyone plays nice, the contractor and TxDOT may let us continue to use the new trail.
There is still a lot of construction work that needs to be completed.
We also need to point out that the stoplight at West Lawther and NW Highway is now working. So an alternative to the underpass is to use the sidewalk on the east side of West Lawther to cross NW Highway. Nice new paths lead from this sidewalk back to the trail.
I am glad the end is near for the trail construction. As for the on grade intersection at NWHwy, it is decidedly not bike friendly. The green light is on barely long enough to make it across. Going north across NWHwy, two lanes are marked for right turns, ensuring that there is no safe place for cyclists going straight other than to the left of the center lane, which puts them in the most exposed position possible.
The pedestrian crossing buttons and walkways are, as always, useful only for pedestrians, too far from the road and the curbed walkways too narrow for passing bikes. Who designs these things anyway?
Unfortunately, that is typical TxDOT mentality. “We put in a trail for goodness sake, why would anyone want to ride on the street?” They just don’t seem to get the concept of bicycles as a transportation alternative.
What action can the city take? At least lengthen the light timing. Why would TXDoT have the final say so on cross traffic? As long as TXDoT keeps the flood waters/mud off the trail under NWHwy I’m good, but I predict there will be many days the trail will be impassable.