Plans to extend the Katy Trail eastward across Central Expressway and out to White Rock Lake and its trail system look to be inching toward completion.
The extension is about to clear the hurdle that is Central Expressway, using the overpass bridge along McCommas Boulevard to bring the Katy Trail from McKinney Avenue to the west to Glencoe Park on the east side of the freeway.
From there, its northbound to Mockingbird Station, east along some Oncor and DART easements, and out to the White Rock Station along the DART light rail Blue line — and bingo, Katy, meet White Rock; White Rock, Katy.
Except for one little thing. Taking the trail north across Mockingbird Lane at ground level would likely mean certain death for any number of bicyclists, runners, walkers, and other trail-users. That’s one busy road, and pedestrians crossing, say, from Hotel Palomar to Mockingbird Station look like Eddie Murphy’s character in “Bowfinger” when he crosses the freeway.
So, the trail needs a bridge across Mockingbird, and we’ve heard this song before. Don’t expect the full extension to run uninterrupted for another five years.
Bridge over Central? Check. Bridge over Mockingbird? Check that.
Bruce Felps owns and operates East Dallas Times, an online community news outlet serving the White Rock Lake area. He’s going to use this trail for … oh, who’s he trying to kid, he’ll be on the couch as always.
