KILLEEN, Texas — Bunny Trail in Killeen can look like "chaos" during the drop-off and pick-up hours of the school year, as one resident described it.
But the wait of expanding the two lane road scattered with dents, dips and bumps will be worth it, said Anthony Simpson who lives down the street from Haynes Elementary School off Bunny Trail.
"I would drive up and down the road and I have a truck so I was literally bouncing in the lanes," Simpson said. "I appreciate them getting it one now, we need it big time."
Simpson said the traffic congestion flairs up around 7:30 am-8:30 am and again at 3:30 pm at the conclusion of the school day.
"It's sort of a burden, the biggest part of that is them starting just a few weeks ago with school starting and we have two schools along this way," Simpson said.
At their May 7 meeting the Killeen City Council approved a contract by RT Schneider to complete the Bunny Trail Renovation Project for $5.8 million to include a full replacement of the roadway, curb, gutter sidewalk and drainage at the intersection of West Stan Schlueter Loop. As the project extends from Stan Schlueter Loop to Canadian River Loop.
For Simpson's neighbor, Octavius Young, the temporary congestion is a small price to pay after cracking all the rims of his car on the old road.
"It was probably $1,000 with the road being like that," Young said. "I'd rather have two lanes and have them take their time and get this right."
Young said the cracks and potholes were made worse by the 2022 winter storm that hit Texas.
"I'd rather have two lanes of how they have the construction right now, it's a little smooth compared to having four lanes of chaos," Young said.
The city said the drop off locations at the middle and elementary schools are still accessible off Bunny Trail and sidewalks and side street access will be open to pedestrians at all times.
The city said safety is the top priority in this project and are asking all Killeen Independent School District parents to use approved drop off locations as the city's detention pond will no longer allow drop-offs.
The project is projected to last 300 days, according to the City of Killeen, quarterly updates on construction progress can be found at this link.