The opening of a new elementary school is fast-tracking a portion of Allen’s next major road project.
On Oct. 25, city council members approved a design contract for a new segment of Ridgeview Drive. The design is for a new extension of Ridgeview Drive to connect Watters Road to Chelsea Boulevard, including a six-lane bridge across Cottonwood Creek.
This road will serve as a key connection to Allen Independent School District’s eighteenth elementary school, which is currently under construction near Ridgeview Drive and Chelsea Boulevard. The school district has committed to pay for accelerated design and construction costs to guarantee that a portion of Ridgeview Drive is operational before the new school opens next summer.
The entire project is estimated at $6.9 million. Design costs will be covered by existing funds in Allen’s capital improvement program. Voters approved $23.89 million in various road projects, including the extension of Ridgeview Drive, during the May 7 election.