Fort Worth’s far north is getting a pricey underground tune-up and a new spot to stash the RV.
The City Council has signed off on roughly $14.6 million in water, sewer and storm-drain work that will replace aging lines and redirect runoff near the Caylor water-storage tanks in far-north Fort Worth. In the same meeting, council members voted to rezone a 6.1-acre tract at 14271 Old Denton Road from one-family residential to light industrial, clearing the way for an RV storage facility, a small office and a car wash. City staff say the combined moves are meant to cut down on flooding on nearby private property and finally put an underused annexed site to work.
Big Utility Contract and What It Covers
According to City of Fort Worth records, the council approved a $14,595,928 contract with Arlington-based Gra-Tex Utilities Inc. for the Water and Sanitary Sewer Replacement Contract 2021 WSM-F project.
The paperwork calls for replacing about 14,972 linear feet of cast-iron water pipe and nearly 5,975 linear feet of deteriorated sanitary sewer. The job also includes pavement rehabilitation and targeted storm-drain repairs. Staff highlighted a segment near the Caylor water tanks where storm-drain improvements are expected to tackle chronic runoff problems that have been spilling onto neighboring private parcels.
How the Work Will Be Paid For
As reported by Community Impact, most of the roughly $14.6 million price tag, about $13.3 million, will come from the city’s PayGo balance, essentially a cash-funded pool for capital work. The remaining dollars will be drawn from the 2023 drainage revenue bond series.
Community Impact also notes that three of the lowest bids were ruled non-responsive because they did not meet the city’s Small Business Ordinance requirements, which left Gra-Tex Utilities as the recommended awardee.
Rezoning Clears the Path for RV Storage
The council also approved zoning case ZC-25-201, changing the 6.10-acre property at 14271 Old Denton Road from “A-43” one-family to “I” light industrial, according to the City of Fort Worth.
The application outlines plans for an RV storage facility with a small office space for site management, indoor warehouse space and covered outdoor parking. The zoning commission recommended approval. Staff also pointed out that the layout keeps the existing tree canopy and leaves the southern third of the property, which sits in a floodplain, undeveloped.
Drainage Tweaks Aim to Calm the Water
Project renderings in council materials show the storm drain being realigned from a north-south route along North Caylor Road to an east-west alignment that ties into Landisburg Trail. City staff say that shift should move stormwater more efficiently into the drainage system instead of turning nearby yards into temporary ponds.
Community Impact reports that engineers presented the updated alignment as part of the project visuals and reiterated that the southern portion of the newly rezoned lot will remain undeveloped because it lies in the floodplain. Engineers told city officials that the combination of utility upgrades and storm-drain work is expected to ease ponding and erosion problems on private properties around the tank site.
Why Far-North Neighbors Should Care
The sewer and drainage overhaul is part of a broader push to keep up with the rapid industrial and residential growth in far-north Fort Worth, where new rooftops and warehouses have been arriving faster than some of the basic infrastructure.
In December, far north drivers score $47.2 million road makeover as the city advanced a slate of projects to widen lanes, add sidewalks and modernize drainage in the area. City leaders have framed the latest utility work as one more piece of that larger puzzle. District 10 Councilmember Alan Blaylock, who represents the area, has several transportation and water projects already in motion in his district, per Hoodline.
What Happens Next
The council approved the necessary appropriation ordinances and the construction contract at its Feb. 10 meeting, giving staff the green light to move from planning into execution. That step sets up the city to begin formal contracting processes and schedule construction.
Residents who want to track progress can find project documents, timelines and contact details on the city’s capital projects webpage and by reviewing the council files posted online.
