CIRCLE T TRUCK STOP
BELLMEAD, TEXAS
Circle T Gas Station
Commercial Civil Site Engineering in Bellmead, Texas
Project Location:
4606 Harrison Street Bellmead, McLennan County, Texas
Project Overview:
Merritt Engineering Services provided complete civil site design for the Circle T Gas Station, a new commercial fuel and convenience facility located in Bellmead, Texas. The project encompasses a 12,950 square foot building with an expansive fuel canopy, truck-scale fueling lanes, and full site infrastructure on approximately 5.9 acres fronting U.S. Highway 84. The scope required close coordination with TxDOT for driveway permitting and intersection spacing compliance along a major state corridor, as well as multiple review and revision cycles through the City of Bellmead permitting process.
As the engineer of record, Merritt Engineering delivered a 45-sheet civil plan set covering all aspects of site development from grading and drainage to utility layout and erosion control. Construction is currently underway.
Project Specifications:
Project Type:
Commercial Fuel & Convenience Development
Location:
4606 Harrison St., Bellmead, TX 76705
Building Area:
12,950 Square Feet
Site Area :
Approximately 5.9 Acres
Client:
Trinh Company, LLC
Jurisdiction :
City of Bellmead / TxDOT
Plan Sheets:
45-Sheet Civil Plan Set
Project Status:
Under Construction (2025)
Engineering Services Provided:
Site Planning & Dimension Control
Merritt Engineering prepared the proposed site plan and multi-sheet dimension control drawings establishing all pavement geometry, fire lane layouts, parking configurations, drive aisle widths, and curb radii. The site accommodates WB-62 interstate semi-trailer turning movements throughout, with dedicated truck fueling lanes and fire lane compliance per City of Bellmead standards. Parking calculations confirmed 65 required spaces including ADA-compliant and van-accessible stalls.
Grading Design
Grading design established a finished floor elevation with positive drainageway from the building across a site with multiple existing drainage constraints. Back-of-curb, flowline, and pavement spot elevations were coordinated across two grading plan sheets to ensure compliant cross-slopes, ADA-accessible sidewalk grades, and proper drainage to proposed inlets throughout the site.
Stormwater & Drainage Design
Stormwater management was a central focus of the project. The site was divided into multiple interior drainage sub-areas, with storm systems designed to convey runoff to two proposed on-site detention ponds sized to match pre-development storage volumes. Culvert crossings under proposed drive approaches were designed and verified for the 100-year storm event using McLennan County rainfall intensity data. A proposed drainage channel along the eastern boundary conveys offsite flows around the development.
Utility Design
The utility plan coordinated dual 2-inch water service taps to an existing 6-inch waterline, sanitary sewer connection with a proposed grease trap and controlled low-strength material (CLSM) installation, and a complete fire flow analysis. Fire flow calculations confirmed a 2,500 GPM required flow rate with three hydrant placement locations serving the 12,950 SF Type IIB structure. All water and sewer crossings were designed in compliance with Texas Administrative Code separation requirements.
Erosion Control & SWPPP
The erosion control plan addressed 6.62 acres of disturbed area with over 1,265 linear feet of silt fence, 170 linear feet of rock berms, stabilized construction entrance, concrete washout area, and rock filter locations at outfall points. The design provides the framework for TPDES General Permit compliance and SWPPP implementation by the contractor.
TxDOT Coordination
The site's US-84 frontage required driveway and intersection spacing documentation submitted to TxDOT for review and approval. Merritt Engineering managed multiple revision cycles addressing TxDOT and owner comments through the April, May, and July 2025 submittal rounds.
Project Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: TxDOT Driveway Permitting on US-84
Solution: Prepared dedicated driveway and intersection spacing plan sheet documenting all required spacing dimensions from Williams Road and Harrison Street intersections. Coordinated revisions through three TxDOT comment cycles to achieve permit approval.
Challenge: Dual Detention Requirements
Solution: Designed two separate detention pond systems — Pond A and Pond B — to capture and attenuate runoff from distinct drainage areas across the site, matching pre-development storage volumes and meeting City of Bellmead requirements.
Challenge: WB-62 Truck Circulation
Solution: Modeled full WB-62 interstate semi-trailer turning movements throughout the site to confirm fire lane geometry, drive aisle widths, and fueling lane configurations accommodate large vehicle circulation without conflict.
Challenge: Multiple Permitting Jurisdictions
Solution: Managed concurrent coordination between the City of Bellmead for site plan approval and TxDOT for US-84 access permitting, keeping both review tracks aligned and minimizing construction delay.
Project Benefits
✓ Economic Development: New commercial fuel facility serving the US-84 corridor in Bellmead
✓ Infrastructure Capacity: On-site detention design protects downstream drainage system
✓ Regulatory Compliance: Full TxDOT, City of Bellmead, and TCEQ permit coordination
✓ Truck Accessibility: Site designed for WB-62 semi-trailer circulation throughout
✓ Long-Term Serviceability: Utility design coordinated for future MEP build-out
Frequently Asked Questions
What civil engineering services were provided for this project?
Merritt Engineering provided the complete civil site design package including site planning, dimension control, grading, drainage, utility layout, and erosion control — serving as engineer of record through permitting and into construction.
What is TxDOT driveway permitting and why is it required?
Any development accessing a state highway like US-84 must obtain a driveway permit from TxDOT demonstrating that proposed access points meet spacing requirements from adjacent intersections and other driveways. Merritt Engineering manages this permitting process for commercial clients throughout Central Texas.
Does Merritt Engineering provide services during construction?
Yes. We provide construction phase services including site visits, RFI responses, submittal review, and plan revision support to keep projects on schedule and in compliance with permitted design.
What other commercial site projects has Merritt Engineering completed?
Our portfolio includes commercial site design, municipal infrastructure, drainage studies, and subdivision engineering throughout McLennan County and Central Texas. Visit our Portfolio page to see additional projects.
Need Commercial Civil Engineering in Central Texas?
Merritt Engineering Services provides complete civil site design for commercial, municipal, and land development projects throughout Waco, McLennan County, and Central Texas.
Our services include:
Commercial site planning and grading
Stormwater and drainage design
Utility coordination and design
TxDOT permitting and coordination
Erosion control and SWPPP
Construction administration