Highland Park is turning the Wycliffe Avenue roadway dam over Turtle Creek into a bridge, a roughly $22 million project the town says will run 20 to 24 months. The town's schedule showed notice to proceed on October 14, 2026, and construction starting in November. For residents near Turtle Creek, it means rotating closures now and lower flood risk later.
What is the Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project?
Along Wycliffe Avenue between St. Johns Drive and Lakeside Drive, the road itself acts as a dam across Turtle Creek. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality classifies that dam as high hazard, People Newspapers has reported. The town plans to remove the roadway dam and rebuild the crossing as a bridge, with a step-down weir below to control water flow. Town leaders expect the dam to be reclassified as low hazard once the work is done.
The town's project page describes the limits as Wycliffe Avenue from Oak Lawn Avenue to the east town limits, with goals of improving public safety, modernizing aging infrastructure, improving flood mitigation and traffic flow, and building long-term resilience. Two specific problems are named: the upstream spillway's vertical culvert has limited capacity, and the downstream culverts near Turtle Creek cannot carry enough storm runoff.
What is the timeline?
The schedule has moved several times since the council first discussed the project in September 2024, when construction was penciled in for May 2025 through May 2027. The town's current anticipated milestones are:
- September 1, 2026: bid opening, council update and postcard mailers.
- September 15, 2026: construction award and council approval.
- October 14, 2026: construction notice to proceed.
- November 2026: construction begins, lasting 20 to 24 months.
Preliminary utility work has already started. People Newspapers reported on June 30, 2026, that AT&T work had narrowed Fitzhugh Avenue to one lane during working hours between the Katy Trail and Oak Lawn Avenue, with Oncor work to follow.
Who is paying for it?
The estimated cost is about $22 million, and roughly 72 percent is expected to come from outside sources, according to the town's FAQ. Highland Park's local share is about $6.2 million. Partners include:
- The Texas Department of Transportation, through an 80/20 federal funding match.
- Dallas County, through a 50/50 cost-sharing agreement.
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, through a grant for design costs.
- The cities of Dallas and University Park, through financial participation.
The project also relocates and replaces the town's 30-inch Turtle Creek interceptor, with utility upgrades that benefit Highland Park, University Park and Dallas. The town says the Connor Lake water level will be preserved.
Which streets will close, and will residents keep access?
The town's FAQ lists Wycliffe Avenue, Fitzhugh Avenue, St. Johns Drive, Lakeside Drive and Turtle Creek Boulevard as streets that may see closures or restricted access in different phases, though not all at once. The town says residents and businesses will keep access to their homes throughout, including mail, deliveries, utilities and visitors, and that fire, police and EMS access will stay open. Temporary route changes are to be announced in advance.
How will residents get updates?
The town plans to share news through its website, social media, newsletters and Blue Zone notifications, and has assigned an owner's representative as an on-site contact. The project page said construction schedules and traffic control and resident access maps were coming soon.
What did the council care about in the design?
When the council reviewed the plan in September 2024, members discussed cost reductions, landscaping and the look of the new structure, People Newspapers reported. Some raised concerns about preventing people from loitering on the structure and discouraging children from playing or skateboarding on it, and said the design should look attractive without inviting that kind of use. The town later revised the design with public input gathered at a June 2025 meeting, where residents asked about timelines, closures and access to homes.
What does this mean for homeowners near Turtle Creek?
Our agents at The Agency Dallas who work Highland Park see this as a short-term inconvenience attached to a long-term improvement. Some practical notes:
- Flood risk is the big story. Engineering director Lori Chapin said in 2024 that once complete, the road would flood only in an event larger than a 100-year flood. For homes along the creek, reduced flood exposure is meaningful.
- Timing a sale. Sellers on affected blocks may want to think about how closures look to buyers during showings and plan routes and signage accordingly.
- Buyers should ask good questions. Which phase affects a given street, and when, is reasonable to ask before closing.
- Hazard classification can matter. Moving from high to low hazard is a safety change first. Any effect on insurance or lending is a question for those professionals, not something we would promise.
More on the town is on our Highland Park page. The Agency Dallas will keep watching the project as phases begin and streets reopen.
Frequently asked questions
When does Wycliffe Avenue construction start?
The town's project page listed an October 14, 2026 notice to proceed and a November 2026 construction start, with work expected to take 20 to 24 months. The schedule has shifted before, from an earlier 2025 start and then January 2026, so residents should check hptx.org for the latest phase dates and closure maps.
Why is Highland Park replacing the Wycliffe dam?
The section of Wycliffe Avenue between St. Johns Drive and Lakeside Drive acts as a dam that the state classifies as high hazard. Its culverts cannot carry enough storm runoff. Rebuilding it as a bridge with a weir is meant to reduce flood risk for residents and first responders and lead to a low hazard classification.
How much does the Wycliffe Avenue project cost?
The town estimates about $22 million. Roughly 72 percent is expected from outside sources including TxDOT, Dallas County, the TCEQ and the cities of Dallas and University Park. Highland Park expects to cover about $6.2 million with local tax dollars, according to the project FAQ.
Will I be able to reach my home during construction?
The town says residents and businesses will keep access throughout construction, including deliveries, utilities and visitors, and emergency vehicles will have unimpeded access. Closures will be phased across Wycliffe, Fitzhugh, St. Johns, Lakeside and Turtle Creek Boulevard rather than all at once, with changes announced ahead of time.
Sources
- Town of Highland Park: Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project
- Town of Highland Park: Project FAQs
- People Newspapers: Utility Work Underway on Fitzhugh Avenue (June 30, 2026)
- People Newspapers: Dam and Bridge Reconstruction to Begin in January (August 12, 2025)
- People Newspapers: HP Town Council Discusses Wycliffe Avenue Reconstruction Project (September 18, 2024)
