Rockwall County (July 22, 2024) – Explosive growth is hitting all through Rockwall County.
Witness what is currently happening just in the area of traffic. If you decide to go into Dallas, or over to Rowlett, you had best be prepared for either a 5 minute or a 45-minute trip just to get across “The Bridge”.
If you decide to forget the “The Bridge” and use Route 66, be prepared for even longer delays. Traffic backed up all the way from downtown Rockwall to the middle of Ridge Road going from Horizon to downtown is not uncommon.
And unfortunately, there is no quick solution in sight. “The Bridge “ won’t be finished for years and the ways of getting to 66 are beyond easy expansion.
How about getting from one side of Rockwall city to I 30, or just simply the other side of town?
There are really only two feasible roads that will allow that: Ridge Road or Goliad/Route 205. (Sure, one could use John King, but that isn’t very likeable.)
Going to Fate, Royse City, or McLendon Chisholm offers the same type problems.
Making the problem more severe is the continued building of new developments throughout the county.
Since Austin has been the controlling factor in where these developments can be built in the unincorporated areas of the county, little, if any attention, has been paid to traffic demands based on population growth.
So, what can we do? Several things!
The Commissioner’s Court is already trying desperately to get control of new developments and how they are approved. (This may be a longer-term solution as there will be much opposition from developers if the County gains some controlling power.)
The citizens of the county have been very receptive to having new roads built within the county by their approval of every Road Bond presented for a vote. But these road bonds largely address roads constructed and managed by the state and not the cities of the county.
So, what does that mean? To get some immediate improvements the cities are going to need to get more involved.
For example, during rush hours, traffic lights can be adjusted so long lines of traffic attempting to address the major roads, or destinations, can be moved more quickly. (In Rockwall city during evening rush hour, traffic on Route 66 is backed up all the way from downtown Rockwall to Rowlett. Traffic lights in Rockwall could be adjusted to allow longer times for the through traffic to move.)
Long term, more roads accessing I-30 in Rockwall need to be constructed. Ridge road and 205 simply will not support the traffic going forward. The same may apply for Fate and Royse City.
On a short-term basis, traffic on August 2 and 3, from 9PM to 9 AM, is going to be diverted off I 30 to access roads through Rockwall. The Ridge Road underpass of I 30 is going to be closed. What an opportunity to see how the city of Rockwall will handle this potentially very difficult situation!
On another subject, the bids for the construction of the two new court rooms on the third floor of the new courthouse have been received by the county. Now hopefully these new courtrooms can finally be built after have being approved almost two years ago!
Jerry Hogan is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and former Rockwall County Judge who volunteers to write this column. He can be reached at 214-394-4033 or jerryhogan@sbcglobal.net
A Broad View by Jerry Hogan: Cities of Rockwall County must get more involved in traffic problems added by Melanie M on
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