KELLER, Texas — The Keller City Council approved changes to slow down drivers and improve traffic flow on a portion of Bear Creek Parkway after a 14-year-old girl was hit and nearly killed by a suspected drunk driver while running in the area in April.
Crews have been repaving a portion of Bear Creek Parkway between Whitley Road and Elm Street and Rufe Snow Drive. Drivers will see narrower travel lanes and several new turn lanes directing traffic into Bear Creek Park and nearby neighborhoods.
Eastbound traffic will see dedicated left turns at Austin Street, College Street, Roy Lane, Cindy Court, Apache Trail, Anita Avenue, Gloria Street, and Pate Orr Road South, as well as into the driveways for Bear Creek Intermediate School.
Also, a short stretch of dual-left markings will handle eastbound traffic turning north onto Park North Lane and westbound traffic turning south onto Bear Creek Park Road. Finally, left-turn lanes will direct westbound traffic into the trailhead parking lot near the Rufe Snow Drive intersection, onto Elaine Street, and into Bear Creek Park’s eastern lot.
"Bear Creek Parkway experiences anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 people a day," said Alonzo Linan, the director of Public Works for the city of Keller.
He said after the tragedy they listened to the suggestions of residents and were able to implement several of the things people wanted to see in the area.
"It's an opportunity for us to be responsive to the tragedy that happened as well as listen to the citizens," he said.
After 14-year-old Nina Alvarez, who was released from the hospital in June, was hit on Bear Creek Parkway, residents will also see “sharks teeth” pavement markings to help catch drivers’ attention as they approach the crosswalks on both ends of the park. Additional sets of flashing warning signs for pedestrians to cross will also be added.
A new crosswalk spanning Bear Creek Parkway at Pate Orr Road South will also be marked with an accompanying sidewalk on the south side of the road.
The project is expected to be complete by the end of the month.