KILLEEN, Texas — To the applause of event attendees and to the relief of residents, the City of Killeen dug their ceremonial shovels into the dirt marking the beginning of the Watercrest Road reconstruction project Tuesday morning.
Watercrest is just one of several stretches of road that was part of the city's street reconstruction bond from fiscal year 2022, and was part of the previous pavement management program.
Renovations include a full road and sidewalk replacement from Clear Creek Road to Willow Springs Road. The 2.2 mile stretch will also be narrowed from four lanes to three which residents hope will alleviate speeding and traffic congestion concerns.
A traffic signal will also be installed at the Robinett Road intersection.
"The roughness and the dips, that has been a huge issue when driving on Watercrest," said local resident Robert Gomez. "But I'm very excited about the new sidewalks, I think that helps in the quality of life in the city and anything we can do to promote people walking and being safe."
Gomez adding that "a pedestrian friendly city is the way to go."
For other residents, the concerns have come with the physical conditions of the road.
Kendall Adams has been a Killeen resident for seven years and he says driving on Watercrest daily has cost him hundreds in repair damages on his vehicle's rims.
"Pot holes, cracks in the road, they even dented my rims a little bit actually," Adams said.
Adams said the ice storm of 2021 cause road conditions to deteriorate quickly and he is happy to see the first steps in laying a new road get underway.
"It's going to save everybody money on their vehicles so it's an overall good thing," Adams said.
Killeen City Manager Kent Cagle told those in attendance at the groundbreaking that it Watercrest will soon resemble the construction that residents are seeing on Bunny Trail Road. Adding that for the driver safety and road longevity, the construction will be worth every penny of the $10.9 million investment.
Watch more:
Read more: