Killeen Neighborhood Raises Safety Concerns Over Stagecoach Road Construction

Residents on Lewellyn Street say drivers are using their residential road as a dangerous shortcut to avoid construction.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 11:20pm

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A vibrant, pop art-style grid of bright orange traffic cones, conceptually representing the temporary safety measures implemented by residents on Lewellyn Street to address speeding and traffic issues caused by nearby construction.Temporary traffic cones and signage used by a Killeen neighborhood to address safety concerns during nearby construction.Killeen Today

Neighbors in a Killeen, Texas neighborhood are raising safety concerns as drivers use their residential street, Lewellyn, as a shortcut to avoid construction on nearby Stagecoach Road. The increase in traffic and speeding has prompted residents to place caution and slow-down signs in their yards, but they say more needs to be done to address the issue.

Why it matters

The situation on Lewellyn Street highlights the impact that major construction projects can have on nearby residential areas, as drivers seek to bypass delays and congestion. This raises concerns about pedestrian safety, especially in neighborhoods without sidewalks, and the need for cities to proactively address these issues during infrastructure upgrades.

The details

Residents like James Sills have been pushing the city to address the problem since August 2025, noting that similar issues arose during nearby construction in 2015 when the street was closed. Sills says he's had several close calls with speeding drivers, and that the lack of sidewalks and curbs forces residents to walk in the street. The city has responded by installing speed limit signs and coordinating with police on enforcement, but Sills says a more permanent solution like closing the street to through traffic is needed.

  • In August 2025, Sills first brought the safety concerns on Lewellyn Street to the city's attention.
  • A similar issue occurred in the neighborhood during nearby construction in 2015, when the city closed the street.

The players

James Sills

A longtime resident of the Lewellyn Street neighborhood who has been advocating for the city to address the safety concerns caused by drivers using the residential street as a shortcut.

Mr. Zagers

The City Engineer for Killeen, Texas, who has outlined the city's response to the issues on Lewellyn Street, including installing additional signage and coordinating with the police department on enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“I've almost been, hit three times, one was passing vehicles, one was just somebody took a turn too far and stayed in the grass instead of getting on the street. So these are, these are instances that have happened that are happening across our community.”

— James Sills, Resident

“For us that, that really doesn't help matters that everyone knows residential roads are 30 miles an hour unless something else is posted. So, we, we didn't find that truly effective. What, what we, what is truly effective just based on what's, what's always been done is, uh, a road closes through traffic, right? If you cut down the actual volume, those, those speed instances and infractions will, will reduce just inherently.”

— James Sills, Resident

What’s next

The city plans to install temporary 'Road Closed to Thru Traffic' signage on Lewellyn Street and conduct further studies to evaluate its effectiveness. If the measure proves successful, a longer-term solution will be presented to the City Council for consideration.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the need for cities to proactively address the impact of major construction projects on nearby residential areas, ensuring the safety of pedestrians and residents. While temporary measures like increased signage and enforcement can help, a more permanent solution like closing the street to through traffic may be necessary to truly address the concerns of the Lewellyn Street neighborhood.