When will roadwork on Sublett/287 end?

Originally, the new Kroger store on Sublett and US 287 would take occupancy at the beginning of January, 2018. If that had been the case, all the roadwork would have been finished?{{more: continue …}}as there is a requirement to open the doors for the store would be the completion the roadway improvements in front of the store.?

Kroger has announced an opening in the spring of 2018. The roadwork has since been fast tracked which means that lane slowdowns and closures will be frequent for the next several months.

However, sometime this spring there will be a four lane road front of Kroger and Albertson?s along with separate turn lanes on both sides of the road. Meaning that you will no longer have to wait in line to go south to Mansfield and it be will easier to turn west off of US 287 access road on to Sublett.

Another part of road improvement will be the relocation of the off ramp for US 287 south to Sublett to a location further north to allow more time to make the transition to the new turn lane. Preparation work has begun for that project and should be completed along with the other road improvements.

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The new store is projected to employ 225 ? 250 employees and have an estimated 16 million taxable value which will be good for the school district but no benefit for the City of Kennedale as it is outside of the city?s boundaries.

The DFW area continues to be a hot spot for development including new grocery stores. Elsewhere there has been a slowdown. In March of 2017, Kroger announced a slowdown in building of new stores, cutting about 35% of the original project for the 2017 year. It match a slowdown announced by Sprouts, Whole Food, WalMart (which announced earlier in 2018 that it would be closing 63 Sam?s Wholesale stores, including 4 in Texas but none in the DFW area.

Additional development ?

Originally, stores that were projected to open around the new Kroger store were Jimmy?s Johns, Chipolte, Taco Bell and Chick-fila. Those have not been confirmed.

The original Coker homestead land that fronts Sublett and adjacent to Joplin Road is for sale. It includes 13 acres zoned R-3 for residential single family.

No improvement ?

The ?Valley? is not set for road improvement. The valley refers to the dip in Sublett Road just past the Kroger development that includes the entrances to the Steeplechase Additions and the small two lane bridge with no pedestrian walkway. It will remain a narrow two lane stretch.

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The City of Arlington controls that portion of the road and says that there are no funds to improve that section. The city uses development fees to cover those cost. In other words, Kroger paid for most of the road improvement adjacent to their property.?

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Arlington plans for the area do call for a four lane bridge with a separate protected walkway/bike lane. No deadline. Until that happens students walking to and from school will have to make the dash across the bridge dodging cars and trucks in the process.