Arlington Ramps Up For Largest Street Improvement Program Ever

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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - The City of Arlington is ramping up the largest street improvement program in its history and Tuesday night people who drive in the city were also being warned that they'll need patience behind the wheel.

A drive down Center Street is like a drive into Arlington's near future. There is road construction there -- lots of road construction. "It was like going through a mine field," said Mike Cruson about the early phase of Center Street construction.  "Just nothing level."

Cruson lives off of Center Street and when he wasn't driving across a torn up road, he was squeezing into the narrow, just-completed temporary lanes. "It's so narrow coming out on this road you're actually going into the other lane," he said. "That's the reason I told my wife to go out the other way. She's got a new car and I don't need to get another one!"

More drivers will suffer soon as Arlington ramps up $80 million worth of construction projects -- all at the same time.

"In the next few months, we are going to have more roads under construction than at any times in Arlington's history," explained Mayor Jeff Williams. "We've got Stadium Drive, some on Collins, Green and then of course we've got a lot of neighborhood rebuilds that'll be going on too."

Most of the roads were last rebuilt in the 80's and were due for repairs. Either the streets were already under construction or just breaking down.

The various street projects will disrupt traffic over the next five years, as the city invests almost $261 million in roads. Mayor Williams said, "We are going to have to be asking for patience from our citizens as we work to repair our streets."

Being optimistic Cruson said, "In the big picture, the long run? It'll be worth it."

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