Lake Dallas Set to Rebuild Carlisle Drive With $3.7 Million From Denton County

Carlisle Drive in Lake Dallas is set to be rebuilt, and Denton County has agreed to pay for it. On Thursday, the City Council is scheduled to sign the deal and choose who does the work.

The council meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at City Hall, 212 Main Street. Three action items on the agenda deal with the Carlisle project: an interlocal agreement with Denton County, a construction contract with DDM Construction, and the rest of an engineering contract with McAdams.

The county's share

The interlocal agreement in the meeting packet covers Carlisle Drive from South Lake Dallas Drive to Main Street. That stretch lies within Lake Dallas, the Town of Hickory Creek and Denton County Commissioner Precinct 3. It puts the estimated project cost at $3,737,000. The county agrees to contribute up to that same amount, "based on current available funding." Its funding is subject to approval by the Denton County Commissioners Court.

The agreement also leaves room to grow. It says that if more bond funds become available, the parties intend to amend it later to raise the county's commitment.

Under the agreement, the city handles engineering, right-of-way, utility relocations, inspections, construction and future maintenance. The county reimburses the city for approved costs. The city sends invoices each month, and the county pays within 30 calendar days. When the work is done, both sides will audit the project.

What gets built

An engineering proposal from McAdams, included in the packet, describes the job. The city would rebuild about 2,300 linear feet of Carlisle Drive. That means tearing out the old pavement, preparing the base and laying new pavement. Storm drains would be replaced or adjusted, with new drainage pieces added where needed, and water and wastewater fixtures would be raised or lowered to meet the new grade.

The firm writes that the work is meant to "enhance public safety, improve ride quality, address drainage deficiencies, and reduce ongoing maintenance demands." Earlier construction drawings showed other road segments, but McAdams says this contract is expected to cover Carlisle Drive only.

Lewisville Lake and Dam in Denton County, 1999. Illustrative. Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

The price tag

City staff recommends DDM Construction for the construction work. A staff memo lays out the budget this way:

• DDM Construction contract: $2,346,979.30

• Contingency for change orders, 25% of the construction contract: $586,744.82

• Remaining McAdams engineering authorization: $458,500

• Total: $3,392,224.12

That leaves $344,775.88 of the county's money unspent, according to the memo. It also says any added costs "must be evaluated against the available project funding." Dylan Stubb of McAdams is scheduled to walk the council through the bids before the vote. The council would also authorize the city manager to approve change orders up to the full contingency.

The engineering numbers don't match

The packet is not consistent about McAdams's fee. The construction memo puts the engineering contract at $508,500, with $50,000 approved on June 29 and $458,500 left to authorize. The engineering memo puts the total at $508,000, with $458,000 remaining. The agenda caption and recommended motion for that item read "not to exceed $485,000." None of these documents explains the differences. Council members may want to settle the exact figure before they vote.

Also Thursday

The meeting opens with a Lifesaving Award for Officer William Varvil, according to the agenda. The council will also consider an agreement with SPAN, Inc. for transportation and meal services for eligible residents during fiscal year 2026-27. It will take up an ordinance revising the city's master fee schedule, including fees for reviewing engineering and construction plans and inspecting public infrastructure, effective Nov. 1. And on consent, the council will consider up to $20,000 for McAdams to update the city's official zoning map and GIS data.

A rebuilt road with the county covering the bill is a good deal for Lake Dallas. Still, county money is taxpayers' money too, and the numbers should be right before the ink dries. Residents who want to speak must fill out a Public Meeting Appearance Card and hand it to the city secretary before the item is called. The full packet is on the city's meeting portal.

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