Changes are coming to White Rock Trail in the form a major overhaul to the McCree Bridge located next to White Rock Valley Park, just south of the intersection of Spring Branch and White Rock Trail.

Vincent Lewis is an engineer with the city's Trinity Watershed Management Department and also the project manager for the bridge overhaul.

According to Lewis, the project will turn McCree Bridge into an arching bridge structure and is intended to raise the bridge and its connecting road four to five feet.

"Right now the bridge is currently below the 100 year flood plane, so this project is necessary to raise the bridge out of that plane," Lewis said.

While it may present an inconvenience for local residents, White Rock Trail is not expected to be closed during the project.

"Basically what we'll end up doing is detouring through the park area – creating a temporary asphalt road and putting in culverts to manage the water."

"The bridge will look very similar to the architecture of the Northwest Highway Bridge currently under construction."

The stone used on the bridge will also match the stone recently installed on the shade structure at the playground adjacent to the bridge.

As to the timing of the project, if all goes well, the estimated one million dollar project should be completed next year.

"Currently we're looking at advertising it for bid in the spring and will hopefully reward it and begin construction next summer," said Lewis.

"The project is expected to take six months after construction begins, so if everything goes smoothly we'll be done with the project in 2012."

Joan Walne, president of the Dallas Park and Recreation Department, has been involved in the planning stages of the project based on its impact on the nearby park.

"While this will be an inconvenience for a short time, I am appreciative of the sensitivity to the park," she said.

"The project team has worked hard to minimize the impact."

"The actual bridge design will be such a enhancement to the park and the surrounding neighborhood, incorporating the stone from the recent shade addition to the park and the elements from the enhancements at White Rock Lake."

"In addition, the team plans to add irrigation and plant additional trees."