Downtown Abram Street Rebuild Named Association's '2020 Transportation Project of the Year'

By Nina Sherer, Public Works and Transportation

Posted on June 26, 2020, June 26, 2020

The reconstruction of Abram Street from the Grand Prairie City Limits to Cooper Street is one of the largest street rebuilding projects in the City of Arlington’s history.

This project was more than a roadway rebuild; it was a complete renovation of a major Arlington corridor. After nearly six years of work to transform the entire Abram Street corridor, the Department of Public Works and Transportation is pleased to announce that major construction on the fourth and final phase of the project will be completed this July. The final phase focused on the section of Abram Street the runs through the heart of Arlington between Cooper and Collins Streets, and was part of the City’s plan to revitalize Downtown Arlington.

As a result of the visionary nature and superior project management, the rebuild of Abram Street between Cooper and Collins Streets was awarded the Texas Chapter of the American Public Works Association 2020 Transportation Project of the Year in the $25M to $75M category. This award is given projects that demonstrate good construction management techniques, awareness of the need for a good overall safety program during construction, means of improving relations between the department and the public, environmental awareness, and the ability to overcome unusual adverse conditions. 

Since March 2018, the Department of Public Works and Transportation has been working to rebuild the 5-lane roadway between Cooper and Collins Streets to a 3-lane undivided roadway with at-grade median pavers for lane delineation. Reducing the roadway width allowed for the addition of on-street parking, enhanced parkway landscaping, public art, and pedestrian amenities that aim to create a more vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for downtown residents, visitors, and businesses. In addition to the above ground improvements, the project also included improvements to the water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure and the relocation and installation of over 77,000 linear feet of conduit/cables for electricity, communications, fiber optics, traffic signals, and irrigation lines.

The completion of the Cooper to Collins Street phase represents the culmination of over a decade of design and construction efforts to bring a portion of the City’s Master Plan to fruition. Due to the massive undertaking a rebuild of this size is, the project was divided into the following four phases: 

• City Limits to SH-360, completed in August 2017
• SH-360 to Stadium Drive, completed in August 2016
• Stadium Drive to Collins Street, completed in March 2018 

Funding for the Abram Street Rebuild project was approved by Arlington voters in the bond elections.

This project aligns with City Council’s priority to Enhance Regional Transportation and Champion Great Neighborhoods. Click here to learn more about projects approved by Arlington voters the 2014 or 2018 Bond Elections.