Both cities use their bond funds to address the transportation needs of the area and also look to the future.
Celina has a five-year capital improvement plan with over $750 million dedicated to projects, many of which focus on roads. Meanwhile in Prosper crews have started the ground work on a potential November bond with $80 million to $90 million looking to address roads alone.
“With the growth that we’re experiencing and all the growth that is surrounding us, there is just a need to expand the existing roads to accommodate it,” Prosper Engineering Director Hulon Webb said.
The details
One of the largest projects running through Prosper and Celina is the Dallas North Tollway expansion at $459.7 million. That project, when complete, will provide a direct link between downtown Dallas and Collin and Denton counties, said Michael Rey, media relations manager for the North Texas Tollway Authority.
Construction crews have worked on drainage, wall foundation and column work, Rey said.
DNT is not the only joint project running through Prosper and Celina. Parvin Road is a thoroughfare running east and west through the two municipalities. Celina works closely with neighboring communities, counties and regional agencies to get things done, Brawner said.
The construction on shared roads is collaborative and officials strive to make sure they are done in conjunction with each other, Webb said.
“Most everything was two-lane rural roads and now two lanes are inadequate for moving the traffic inside and outside Prosper,” he said.
Many of the projects will reduce congestion, connect neighborhoods and make getting to schools, parks, businesses and emergency services easier, Celina Assistant City Manager Kim Brawner said.
“With more people moving here daily, we need to ensure our roads can handle the extra traffic and keep everyone moving safely and efficiently,” Brawner said in an email.
Looking ahead
Celina City Council has directed staff to prepare for a future bond election, Brawner said. The final schedule for that bond has not yet been determined.
In Prosper a bond planning committee is spending this summer reviewing potential packages that include roads.
“Beyond day-to-day inconvenience, not keeping up with road infrastructure could impact the city’s long-term growth,” Brawner said.
