Highland Park Orders Dam Removal on Wycliffe Avenue for 20-Month Project

The Town of Highland Park will begin a major reconstruction project on Wycliffe Avenue on Nov. 10. The work involves removing an existing dam and replacing it with a bridge, a process that requires full road closures at the intersections with Lakeside Drive, St. Johns Drive, and Turtle Creek Boulevard.

Officials state the project will run for 20 to 24 months. The primary objective is to address the safety status of the current dam, which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality previously classified as high hazard. Under FEMA national dam safety standards, this designation indicates that a failure would likely result in the loss of human life. Town leaders aim to reclassify the site as low hazard, a status reserved for locations where no loss of life is expected if the structure fails.

Beyond the structural replacement, the project includes upgrades to the local water drainage system and the replacement of underground utilities. The town asserts these changes will improve flood mitigation and traffic flow while enhancing long-term community resilience. The site is located less than a mile from the intersection of Fitzhugh Avenue and U.S. Highway 75.

During the construction period, motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians must use alternate routes. The town advises drivers to allow extra time for commutes and to exercise caution within work zones. A detailed project overview is available on the Town of Highland Park website.