DFW Loop 9 Tollway Highway - development updates and news topic

[Bobby5280]

It overlaps Tater Brown Road from I-35E for about half a mile before diverting Northward on its own path. In Google Earth you have to turn on the Historical Imagery slider and shift to 7/2023 imagery to see the new construction. It is not visible in the default overhead imagery view.

[rte66man]

There is also the section of loop 9 from I35E to I45 under construction they have opened a section of this phase starting at the northbound service road and going east. Google streetview on the northbound mainlanes shows it open as of 4 months ago.

Is it labeled Tater Brown Road on Google Maps?
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5463166,-96.8146757,16.71z?entry=ttu

Yup.

I was impressed with the 1+ mile long bridge at the east end as it approaches I-45.

[BJ59]

I noticed all the support beams for that bridge on the way to Houston a while back and didn't know what they were. I did not know those were for the future Loop 9. Very cool

[armadillo speedbump]

There is also the section of loop 9 from I35E to I45 under construction they have opened a section of this phase starting at the northbound service road and going east. Google streetview on the northbound mainlanes shows it open as of 4 months ago.

Is it labeled Tater Brown Road on Google Maps?
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5463166,-96.8146757,16.71z?entry=ttu

Yep.  And if one goes to Google Earth and switches to the latest images (07/23) one can see the entire route from I-35E to I-45 is nearing phase 1 completion, except for the final 2 miles west of I-45.  Those final 2 miles will be entirely on a bridge!  Google Streetview from the west end of that bridge:

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5545038,-96.6989358,3a,51.4y,72.51h,86.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2pEFEBaXQ3sdijGcBeoNJA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I-45 end looking west:

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5608717,-96.6648804,3a,53.8y,273.61h,89.41t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sa7Hft06f1d5Azt0mMmrwaw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3Da7Hft06f1d5Azt0mMmrwaw%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D355.98544%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[MaxConcrete]

Bids were opened yesterday for work at I-35E and Loop 9, south of Dallas. The online plans show that most of this work is on I-35E, with minimal work on Loop 9. This job appears to prepare I-35E for the interchange, and defines the configuration and right-of-way for the ultimate Loop 9 main lanes.

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/bidtab/02013001.htm

County:   ELLIS   Let Date:   02/01/24
Type:   RECONSTRUCT INTERCHANGE   Seq No:   3001
Time:   0 X   Project ID:   F 2024(737)
Highway:   IH 35E   Contract #:   02243001
Length:   0.000   CCSJ:   0442-03-042
Limits:   
From:   IH 35E AT FM 664   Check:   $100,000
To:   & IH 35E AT SL 9   Misc Cost:   
Estimate   $127,632,940.85   % Over/Under   Company
Bidder 1   $146,081,306.28   +14.45%   FLATIRON CONSTRUCTORS, INC.
Bidder 2   $147,149,991.40   +15.29%   WEBBER, LLC
Bidder 3   $147,947,937.56   +15.92%   INDUS ROAD & BRIDGE, INC.

[Bobby5280]

$150 million? Just to prep I-35E for a directional interchange? I wonder if that will include the beginnings of any ramps. $150 million would be a lot just to build what will probably be a partial volleyball interchange.

[05danper42842]

Hopefully they do another bid soon for the interchange at the other end of the road. Might aswell do both interchanges so other loop segments have a starting base to start from. For example loop c can use the interchange as a visual base of how the road should be connected.

[Bobby5280]

They have detailed plans for the main lanes and interchanges that will eventually be built. Right now their top concern needs to be corridor preservation. That can be done by merely building a 2-lane road with a swath of empty ROW preserved next to it. Such a thing can be built in a relatively short amount of time for not all that much money. It locks the super highway's ROW in place, protected from jackasses that want to build new things all over it. The initial 2-lane road would eventually be turned into one of two frontage roads. Or it might be one of the two primary roadways if there are no frontage roads on that segment.

[Plutonic Panda]

Couldn't even purchase the row without needing to build anything?

[Bobby5280]

If they just purchase the land and leave it vacant that will always leave open the possibility some media whore politician and scumbag real estate developer will pull a fast one and build over that land anyway. Or some progressive activists will insist the vacant property be turned into park land, green space, bicycle paths, etc. Jerks on both sides of the political aisle have no problem sabotaging long term infrastructure plans in return for short term gain.

To preserve a future freeway or toll road corridor properly there at least needs to be a 2-lane road marking the path permanently (with that vacant land secured off to the side). I know even that isn't a guarantee. But if there is at least a road of some type marking the path the general public will anticipate the big highway being built there eventually.

[05danper42842]

I was using SOAR Imagery and it looks the both bridges are fully paved. Google maps hasn't updated the street view.

[05danper42842]

Yes is labeled for that so it can be changed to loop 9 once finished.