Harker Heights – City officials rededicated Indian Trail Tuesday as the reconstruction of a one-mile stretch of the street comes to a close.
“Many months ago when we first started this project. I thought I knew how General George Custer felt at the Battle of Little Big Horn,” Public Works Director Mark Hyde said, opening his thank yous to everyone involved. “But then I was blessed by a great construction team.”
The project which installed a new mile of roadway, two sidewalks, storm sewers, mailboxes, more parking for driveways and a water line, was expected to be a difficult undertaking because of the number of residents living on the street, Hyde said.
But thanks to the work from contractors, RT Schneider Construction, the public works department, the council, the engineers and more, the project saw fewer than five complaints during its nearly 10 month construction time, he said.
“As difficult as the project was. I can count on one hand how many complaints we had,” Hyde said.
The project not only created a better roadway for the most traveled north and south thoroughfare that will be used well into the future, it also installed an 18 inch water line that will provide an adequate water supply for many years, Hyde said.
“The design was to help reach future water demand well until 2025,” Hyde said.
The completed project allows for future growth and provides for the safety of many children, Mayor Ed Mullen said during his speech at the dedication.
The reconstruction of this portion of Indian Trail is one the council had worked on for several years, Mullen said.
“There is a story behind this road,” he said. “The real inspiration of this road is the man with a kid’s name – Bobby Hoxworth (a former city councilman).”
Hoxworth’s vision for the street was a six lane highway then it shrunk to four lanes and finally two with sidewalks on both sides of the street, Mullen said. But because of Hoxworth’s vision and dedication to the project, it was completed as it is today.
Mullen presented Hoxworth with a Harker Heights Street sign that said Hoxworth Boulevard a nickname for the project during its debate at council meetings and a sign that said The Hox Stop. Mullen promised Hoxworth the city would name a bus stop, which was added to the projects scope in the final days of planning after him.
by Mason Canales – Killeen Daily Herald