‘High quality’ makeover of State Highway 26 in Colleyville enters final phase

The beautification work on the city of Colleyville’s primary commercial avenue can see the light at the end of the corridor. The makeover of State Highway 26 is set to be complete by the end of 2022, according to assistant city manager Adrienne Lothery.

The contract for Phase III, awarded to C. Green Scaping, has a duration of 365 days. A notice to proceed was issued effective Nov. 1, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 16.

The contractor recently started work at the Main Street/SH 26 location. The work will involve construction of towers at the northwest and southwest corners. Once those towers are finished, the contractor will move south to work on the Creekside Tower near Little Bear Creek.

After that, work will return to Main Street to complete certain improvements on the northwest and southeast corners. The last element to be constructed will be at the Northern Gateway (John McCain/SH 26).

Lothery said Phase III construction, like the two phases before, will have minimal impact on traffic.

“Lane closures immediately adjacent to the different project sites will be necessary at different points in time, but will be limited to the areas actively under construction,” she said.

Phase I began in January 2020 and included installation of decorative light poles along the corridor.

Phase II began in September 2020 and focused on the medians and rights-of-way. It was substantially complete in August 2021 and came in on budget, but Lothery said the COVID-19 pandemic and February winter storm pushed the overall completion date back several weeks.

All of the beautification work is funded by the city’s tax increment financing district (TIF) fund and will not require any increase to citizens’ tax bills, Lothery said.

Colleyville Mayor Richard Newton praised the project, saying it is simply more of the quality work residents have come to expect.

“We demand and expect anybody that comes into the city, especially businesses, that they’re going to bring a high quality product,” Newton said. “And I think we have done our best to live up to that quality expectation, and to me this is part of it.”

Lothery said the Bransford Hike and Bike Trail is another major upcoming project for Colleyville. The project will add a concrete trail from City Park to the Cottonbelt Trail along Bransford Road and is expected to be under construction in mid or late spring.