Video: Part 1 - The Three Death Traps
Video: Part 2 - The Economic Bottlenecks
Video: Part 3 - Why the problems will get much worse
REPORT:
Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199)
at Lake Worth
Deadly Hazardous & Economic Bottleneck
January 28, 2016
Deadly hazards
Three major “death” locations on Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199). 1) A deadly westbound curve entering the bridge from the east, 2) a deadly eastbound curve entering the bridge from the west, and 3) a dangerous intersection long overdue for improvement.
Death Trap 1 - Ridiculous TXDOT lane design. 
The eastbound lake of 199 prior to entering the Lake Worth bridge contains three design failures which create injuries and death. The TXDOT design failures of this area include sharp curves, poor tilt of the road, and a “deadhead” barrier unnecessarily jutting at oncoming traffic.
Death Trap 2 - Dangerous curve on west side of bridge with no barriers. 
Deaths, injuries, and close calls occur regularly on the westbound entry to the Lake Worth bridge where pposing traffic is separated by a 4” high slab of concrete.
Death Trap 3 - Dangerous intersection long overdue for improvement.
The intersection of Jacksboro Highway (TX Highway 199) and Surfside Drive represents the “worst of the worst” in intersection design. Heavy traffic loads, high speeds, access roads on a non-raised highway, stop sign conflict with light, and enormous driver confusion make this intersection of the worst in Texas. Drivers at this intersection continually risk sudden death from just waiting for the light to change.
Economic bottlenecks
Economic bottleneck 1 - Intersection at Surfside Drive and Highway 199
Several community redevelopment efforts - both public and private - are being held “economic hostage” to the insufficient improvements at the intersection of Surfside and Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199). Redevelopment projects which would exponentially increase the traffic flow through this intersection cannot be pursued until the intersection is improved.
Surfside Drive - Casino Beach Revitalization hindered
Commercial revitalization efforts at Casino Beach should be put on hold until the intersection at Surfside and Highway 199 can accommodate the increased traffic flow. (This is an image of the now abandoned revitalization project by the Patterson Group.)
Surfside Drive - Private redevelopment hindered
The City of Fort Worth is in the process of annexing the (“ETJ”) along the Jacksboro Highway corridor as well as installing services of water and sewer. High quality private development will require that the intersection of Surfside Drive and Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199) be adequate to accommodate significantly increased traffic flows.
Economic bottleneck 2 - Unfinished raised highway in the Town of Lake Worth
The Town of Lake Worth currently snarls traffic both directions with numerous traffic lights over the two miles of Jacksboro Highway (TX Hwy 199) that runs through it. These delays exact enormous economic costs in terms of driver time and fuel waste.
Problem is growing daily - Hwy 199 is the ONLY route
Jacksoboro Highway (TX Hwy 199) is heavily used and has become inadequate for current growth. Explosive growth is overwhelming the road.
- Counts in 2013 by TXDOT indicate over 70,000 cars flow through this stretch of TX Hwy 199 each day.
- There are only two routes from Fort Worth to the area west of Lake Worth and Eagle Mountain Lake - Silver Creek and Jacksboro Highway (199) with Jacksboro Highway carrying the vast majority of the load.
- Enormous development is proceeding in this area increasing traffic exponentially.
Action Needed - Immediate and Long-term
Immediate fixes - fix deadly issues NOW
- Buildout the planned raised highway overpass and exit ramps at Surfside Drive (i.e. get rid of traffic light intersection).
- Install barriers between opposing traffic on the deadly curve on west side of the Lake Worth bridge.
- Mitigate the issues on the west-bound curve entering the Lake Worth bridge from the east side of the lake.
- “Straighten” entry to the bridge and eliminate hazardous curve.
- Change configuration of traffic barrier so that it does not “deadhead” directly into traffic.
Long-term needs
Fund and finish existing raised highway plans from Loop 820 through the Town of Lake Worth and westward.
