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• The City of Benbrook is proposing a restricted emergency access and pedestrian/bike bridge to connect I-20 service road in Benbrook with a “Dead End” into Bellaire Dr. S (Figures 1 & 2) at a projected cost of > $1M
• The east side of Clear Fork neighborhoods’ concern is that the bridge will become unrestricted in the future and result in Bellaire Dr. S becoming a thoroughfare with a deterioration to the quality of life for the citizens
• Benbrook claim: Police/Fire/EMS response times are too long for the neighborhoods east of the Clear Fork
• Hidden Agenda:  Access to commercial and residential development along I-20 service road in Benbrook???
• Rumor:  Bridge planned to be two lanes so it can be unrestricted in the future

• Once a restricted bridge is built, nothing stops it from being changed to an unrestricted bridge in the future
• If unrestricted, Bellaire Drive S becomes a thoroughfare to/from I-20 and future commercial (Regional Mall) and residential (Steve Hawkins) development planned for north and south I-20 in the City of Benbrook
• Increased crime, traffic, noise, and air and water pollution for all surrounding neighborhoods
• Decrease in property values for residences on the east side of the Clear Fork
• Increased safety hazards for walkers, bikers, children and neighborhood drivers
• Decrease in quality of life for residents in the surrounding neighborhoods
• Adverse environmental impact on ecologically fragile Clear Fork of the Trinity River

• Drivers look for alternate routes to avoid the Bryant Irvin Rd. “Parking Lot” at peak travel times
• An unrestricted bridge at Bellaire Dr. S at I-20 becomes an attractive alternate thoroughfare
• A more cost effective solution exists:  Eliminate the large upfront capital cost of a bridge and negotiate with the City of Fort Worth for emergency services for the affected Benbrook neighborhoods

 

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Benbrook City Council to Consider Request for Funding From RTC/NTCOG

February 28, 2017 The Benbrook City Council will consider adopting a resolution approving transportation alternatives set-aside program at their regular council meeting March 2, 2017, 7:30 pm. This resolution is required by the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) and North Texas Council of Governments (NTCOG) for the project be considered for funding. This call for projects will not fund the entire construction of the bridge but the City can apply to fund the pedestrian/bicycle portion of the project.

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The City of Benbrook has recently published a Capital Improvement Plan that includes an emergency access and pedestrian/bike bridge to connect the I-20 Service Road with Bellaire Drive in 2019. Gates will keep vehicular traffic off the bridge but allow emergency access vehicles to cross the bridge. The bridge will also allow pedestrians and bike riders the opportunity to cross the Clear Fork Trinity to access the hike/bike trails located in that area of the City. Two locations are being considered.

 

Our concern is that if the bridge is built, sometime in the future the gates will be removed and the bridge open to unrestricted traffic. This could lead to Bellaire Drive becoming a cut-through for traffic avoiding Bryant Irvin Road.

 

Dog owners, PLEASE help keep our neighborhood and park a clean and pleasant place to visit by remembering to pick up after your pet when walking them. This will be appreciated by all that enjoy the outdoors.