Amid the roar of F-35 jets operating nearby, representatives of River Oaks, Fort Worth, the Texas Department of Transportation and the North Central Texas Council of Governments ceremonially broke ground April 27 on a road improvement project that has been 14 years in the making.
Initially conceived in 2012, the $25 million federally funded project will reconfigure Meandering Road and Lt Jg Barnett Road in River Oaks. The upgrade will ultimately create a modernized link between Roberts Cutoff Road and the east gate of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, while also enhancing roadway safety and providing recreational features for the community.
The refurbished roadways will feature three lanes — two travel lanes and a continuous turn lane in the center. Shared-use pathways and sidewalks will be added to both roads and a new traffic circle will replace the existing intersection of the two roads.
Under future projects, the eastern end of Meandering Road will be extended through Roberts Cutoff to connect directly to State Highway 183, and a new bridge will be constructed over the West Fork of the Trinity River where Lt Jg Barnett Road leads up to the base gate.
Dan Kessler, assistant director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, described the balance that was considered in the design process.
“Our goal is a road that will serve the base, but also serve the River Oaks community. We’re going to continue to work with the neighborhood throughout the construction and make sure we mitigate any impacts,” he said.
Design work for the project was performed by Lamb-Star Engineering. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall, with completion estimated for the fall of 2028.
Kessler shared that construction bids were received two weeks ago and came in under budget, leaving him confident that the project will move forward as scheduled.
Fort Worth City Council member Macy Hill acknowledged the level of community support the project has received over the years.
“We have to recognize that the residents and business owners along this corridor have been extremely patient for many years and we appreciate your collaboration,” she said. “This road belongs to all of you, as well as the base and the two city entities.”
NAS JRB Fort Worth commanding officer Capt. Beau Hufstetler is looking forward to the road’s completion.
“I can’t wait to see this access improved and have some better options for our service members to get on and off base to make use of River Oaks, just like we do with Westworth Village, Fort Worth, White Settlement and Lake Worth,” he said.
Doug Wilhelm is a member of the Fort Worth Report Documenters crew and a freelance writer. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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