Council approves $4.79 million Deep Alcorn Road reconstruction contract, delays final traffic-control choices

The Fair Oaks Ranch City Council on July 2 approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a construction contract with D and D Contractors for the Deep Alcorn Road East reconstruction and waterline replacement project in an amount not to exceed $4,787,038.15, including contingency.

Staff presented the project scope and schedule. Grant Watanabe, the city’s public works director, said the work covers roughly 1.2 miles of roadway and includes full‑depth reconstruction, drainage improvements, culvert replacement, driveway and mailbox adjustments and the joint installation of a 12‑inch water main. He said construction will be carried out in three phases over a 365‑calendar‑day period, with construction expected to begin in August and final acceptance anticipated in September 2027. “All culverts will be replaced, and the project area will be regraded to promote drainage,” Watanabe said.

Clayton Holscher, the city’s procurement manager, told council the city received six proposals and recommended D and D Contractors as the lowest, most‑responsive bidder. Holscher said the firm has municipal experience and that references checked out. “We feel really good about the quality that they can bring to us,” he said.

Council members focused much of the discussion on the Chartwell Lane–Saddlesong intersection included in the bid design. Staff recommended adding dedicated left‑turn lanes in both directions — a change consultants and the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee suggested to improve through traffic flow — but several council members and residents warned the addition could create school‑drop‑off congestion and shift queues onto neighborhood streets.

Council member (speaker 3) said the left‑turn lane from Ralph Fair Road toward the elementary school risks backing traffic into the school drop‑off, and asked whether traffic control measures could be implemented during school hours. Watanabe reviewed options the staff had evaluated: retain the bid design with the left‑turn lanes; remove the left‑turn lanes to maintain the current configuration (saving an estimated $3,400 in construction cost); or adopt additional traffic control measures such as a 4‑way stop, a reduced school‑zone speed limit, a HAWK/pedestrian beacon with a permanent stop sign, or temporary officer direction during peak school hours.

Chris Deppke, vice chair of the Transportation Safety Advisory Committee, urged council to authorize a professional traffic study as part of the project to evaluate officer deployment, HAWK signals and other mitigations. “Let them investigate it,” Deppke said, noting the project remained substantially under budget and that funds are available to study traffic control options.

Council member (speaker 7) moved to approve the resolution to award the construction contract as presented; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. After the vote, staff said they will schedule a pre‑construction meeting in mid‑July, host an open house with the contractor toward the end of July, mail direct notices to affected households and coordinate notification to Boerne ISD and other stakeholders.

Why it matters: The project widens shoulders, replaces aging drainage and utilities, and sets a permanent roadway footprint. Council kept the more flexible, wider footprint so it can later reconfigure striping or add traffic control measures without redoing the roadbed.

What’s next: Staff will proceed with awarding the contract, hold pre‑construction outreach, and return to council with traffic‑control recommendations and any formal change‑order proposals as needed.