Dec 6, 2006 7:02 pm US/Central
Fort Worth Begins Demolition For Southwest Parkway
by Mark Johnson
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ―
Fort Worth city leaders used sledgehammers to punch a hole in an abandoned business on Wednesday. This marks the first visual progress for demolitions required to make room for SH-121.
The long-anticipated and controversial Southwest Parkway has been on the drawing boards for decades, but recently the city, county and state are able to show signs of real progress. The former plumbing supply store on West Vickery Boulevard is the first of many buildings which stand in the way of the 15-mile long stretch.
Councilwoman Wendy Davis acknowledges that, for years, neighborhood associations have battled the city's efforts. "There definitely are people who would prefer that the road not be built at all, because it definitely has a negative impact, no matter how good we try to make it," Davis said.
The parkway, which will eventually extend from FM 1187 north to downtown Fort Worth is expected to cost $970 million. Two years ago, Fort Worth voters approved $49.5 million worth of bonds to purchase the necessary right-of-way. Last year, city councilmembers approved an advisory committee's recommendation for the Nature & Character Plan.
Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief says the city is determined to not build just a road, or miles of concrete. "We're going to build a parkway that is going to work its way through sensitive communities, communities that have a history, communities of neighborhoods that worked hard to build the kind of peace and quiet and tranquility that they're used to," he said.
Groundbreaking for the project is expected next year. The 15-mile stretch is scheduled to be completed by 2010.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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