DFW Projects Thread

[txstateends]

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/collin-county/2018/04/24/rural-collin-county-residents-finally-get-look-txdots-possible-routes-us-380-bypass

A proposed US 380 bypass around McKinney has found some opposition, especially among those along the possible routings.  The 3 versions all diverge in the Princeton area east of McKinney, and go around McKinney to the north, then return to the current US 380 alignment east of Prosper.

[MaxConcrete]

A couple items of interest from Thursday's NCTCOG STTC meeting.

1. Completion of the interchange complex at the site of the former Texas Stadium (SH 183/Loop 12/SH 114) now has priority over continuation of the managed lanes into Dallas. With the cancellation of the Trinity Parkway, there is no planned capacity to absorb the managed lanes traffic going into Dallas. I'm glad to see this directive, because it will be nice to get the interchange complex completed in a reasonable amount of time. There has been some kind of work in progress at the site since the late 2000s. I was at the site about two weeks ago, and there is now a large concrete recycling operation.
See item 5 https://www.nctcog.org/trans/committees/sttc/documents/web.agenda_sttc042718.pdf
"With the Trinity Parkway no longer being included in Mobility 2045, the City of Irving wishes to reprioritize transportation components on the SH 183 corridor. The continuation of tolled managed lanes will be replaced with the construction of interchanges around the old Dallas Cowboys stadium site. Action will be requested to adjust project sequencing and to trade Category 2 funds on SH 183 with Category 4 funds on the IH 635 East project"


2. According to the progress newsletter, the next phase of the DFW connector is scheduled to begin this summer. This project will rebuild and widen the IH 635 interchange and section to the north connecting into FM 2499. I think this is the last major work for the DFW connector. This phase is $370 million. I believe this is part of the overall original design-build contract, so it appears there will not be any bidding needed.
https://www.nctcog.org/trans/committees/sttc/2018/04Apr/Ref.Itm_13.10.sttc042718.pdf

[longhorn]

A couple items of interest from Thursday's NCTCOG STTC meeting.

1. Completion of the interchange complex at the site of the former Texas Stadium (SH 183/Loop 12/SH 114) now has priority over continuation of the managed lanes into Dallas. With the cancellation of the Trinity Parkway, there is no planned capacity to absorb the managed lanes traffic going into Dallas. I'm glad to see this directive, because it will be nice to get the interchange complex completed in a reasonable amount of time. There has been some kind of work in progress at the site since the late 2000s. I was at the site about two weeks ago, and there is now a large concrete recycling operation.
See item 5 https://www.nctcog.org/trans/committees/sttc/documents/web.agenda_sttc042718.pdf
"With the Trinity Parkway no longer being included in Mobility 2045, the City of Irving wishes to reprioritize transportation components on the SH 183 corridor. The continuation of tolled managed lanes will be replaced with the construction of interchanges around the old Dallas Cowboys stadium site. Action will be requested to adjust project sequencing and to trade Category 2 funds on SH 183 with Category 4 funds on the IH 635 East project"


2. According to the progress newsletter, the next phase of the DFW connector is scheduled to begin this summer. This project will rebuild and widen the IH 635 interchange and section to the north connecting into FM 2499. I think this is the last major work for the DFW connector. This phase is $370 million. I believe this is part of the overall original design-build contract, so it appears there will not be any bidding needed.
https://www.nctcog.org/trans/committees/sttc/2018/04Apr/Ref.Itm_13.10.sttc042718.pdf

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dallas%2FFort+Worth+International+Airport/@32.9564776,-97.0397256,2902m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x864c2a660d222aa7:0x73323f5e067d201c!2sDallas%2FFort+Worth+International+Airport!8m2!3d32.8998091!4d-97.0403352!3m4!1s0x864c2a660d222aa7:0x73323f5e067d201c!8m2!3d32.8998091!4d-97.0403352

I remember going through this area as kid, aren't the connectors in this area from the late 70s?

[Brian556]

The 114/121 interchange was completed 1973. The westernmost section of I-635 was opened 1981

[Stephane Dumas]

Some flyover ramps had beginned to take shape at the TX-183/114/Loop-12 complex from what I saw on this satellite shot.
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=32.84254,-96.90544&z=16&t=S

[txstateends]

Some flyover ramps had beginned to take shape at the TX-183/114/Loop-12 complex from what I saw on this satellite shot.
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=32.84254,-96.90544&z=16&t=S

They're still there, not finished or ready for traffic yet.

[Stephane Dumas]

Is there some plans to extent TX-360 south of US-287? From the aerial shots I saw, http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=32.52281,-97.08240&z=16&t=S  They seem to left a stub like if there was some long-range plans for a southernly extension.

[aboges26]

Is there some plans to extent TX-360 south of US-287? From the aerial shots I saw, http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=32.52281,-97.08240&z=16&t=S  They seem to left a stub like if there was some long-range plans for a southernly extension.

It will most likely end up at I-35W in the vicinity of Grandview, of course that's if it's current trajectory is assumed, since SH 360 leads right to Arlington and would complete a high speed connection to points south that bypasses having to I-20 or I-30.

[txstateends]

TxDOT's designation file for TX 360 does still extend south of US 287 (http://www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/sh/sh0360.htm) but says its terminus would end up at US 67.

[txstateends]

According to the article, the new tolled main lanes between Camp Wisdom-Sublett and US 287 on TX 360 should be open by this weekend.  Tolls for the main lanes will be $1.62 with a TollTag, $2.44 without (no mention of the variable tolls like with I-635, north Loop 820, or I-35W-North Frwy.).  The extension is 9.7 miles long.

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/your-commute/article210778864.html

-----------------------
Other related articles:

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/mansfield-news-mirror/mnm-news/article189301794.html
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/arlington/article208618329.html

[wxfree]

The complete toll rate chart is available.  The ramp just to bypass the Sublett/Camp Wisdom intersection will cost 28 cents.  $1.11 will pay for the road between the free lanes and south of Broad St.
https://www.ntta.org/roadsprojects/rates/Pages/Toll-Rate-Charts.aspx

To see a complete map of ramps and toll points, open the progress report.
https://www.ntta.org/roadsprojects/projprog/Pages/360-Tollway.aspx

[txstateends]

More since the TX 360 tolled mainlanes opening (with video):
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Drivers-and-Businesses-Excited-as-360-Tollway-Opens-for-First-Weekend-482492271.html?

[txstateends]

Flashback.... to the early days in the formation of Dallas' Woodall Rodgers Freeway.  The news report from 1969 showed the ROW had been cleared except around the eventual I-35E interchange and in the West End area.  Also, the recently-done work where US 75's interchange would be is also shown.  Little did the reporter--nor the rest of Dallas--realize that almost a decade would pass before the freeway would be considered complete.
(Newsreel footage originally done by WFAA/8, since donated to SMU)

https://youtu.be/d6sBFaD4muw

[wxfree]

The design for the expansion of SH 161 from four lanes to eight has been released.  It calls for four lanes each way to just south of the Conflans Rd. exit.  That pavement was already built on the toll section, so the new lanes will just require restriping.  On the non-toll section, the expansion will mainly be accommodated by paving the median, with some new road surface at a few places on the outer edges.  The northbound side will reduce to three lanes north of Walnut Hill Ln. and will have three lanes to north of Belt Line Rd.  The southbound side will have four lanes starting after the old toll booth.  NTTA could expand their section to six lanes with very little work.  The TxDOT section extends nearly to the point where the pavement widens at the toll booth.

[txstateends]

New article about an initial TxDOT proposal about redoing I-30 in and just east of downtown Dallas. It shows the same path as now, with the freeway sunken eastward to before the Munger/Barry exit. The article says the initial plan takes a wider path for main lanes and service roads. The Cesar Chavez bridge would be straightened/simplified, and the new exit for 1st & 2nd Avenues would be combined into one overpass/exit at the freeway crossing. I can't tell any other major differences from it, other than a few properties mostly east of I-45 would be needed for the expansion, the biggest of which would be a chunk of the City's police parking and marshal complex. D Magazine is a bit dramatic about the tone of the article, but this isn't something set in stone. At least this plan includes something many have wanted--below grade freeway lanes between Deep Ellum and Fair Park.

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2018/05/txdots-secret-plan-to-destroy-downtown-dallas/

[Plutonic Panda]

New article about an initial TxDOT proposal about redoing I-30 in and just east of downtown Dallas. It shows the same path as now, with the freeway sunken eastward to before the Munger/Barry exit. The article says the initial plan takes a wider path for main lanes and service roads. The Cesar Chavez bridge would be straightened/simplified, and the new exit for 1st & 2nd Avenues would be combined into one overpass/exit at the freeway crossing. I can't tell any other major differences from it, other than a few properties mostly east of I-45 would be needed for the expansion, the biggest of which would be a chunk of the City's police parking and marshal complex. D Magazine is a bit dramatic about the tone of the article, but this isn't something set in stone. At least this plan includes something many have wanted--below grade freeway lanes between Deep Ellum and Fair Park.

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2018/05/txdots-secret-plan-to-destroy-downtown-dallas/

No they are completely right. Increasing mobility and modernizing the freeway addressing capacity issues will destroy Deep Ellum and Downtown Dallas. They are being dramatic at alllll.

[txstateends]

The latest work and lane change info on the TX 183 "Midtown Express" project:

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/traffic/your-commute/article211357659.html

[txstateends]

After the "LBJ East" project, there are $24 billion worth of other local projects (all in TxDOT's Dallas District):
* I-30 downtown Dallas "canyon"
* I-30 between I-45 and Lake Ray Hubbard
* I-30 between Lake Ray Hubbard and Rockwall-Hunt Co. line
* I-35E between I-635 and US 380 (2nd phase)
* I-35E between Oak Lawn and TX 183
* US 75 between Collin Co. Road 360 to Grayson Co. line
* US 80 between I-30 and FM 480 near Forney
* TX 114 & TX 183, Irving (2nd phase)
* TX 121 between Collin Co. Outer Loop and Fannin Co. line
* TX 205 between TX 78 and US 80
* Loop 9 between I-35E and I-45

The article says they are all priority projects, but the funding isn't there yet for them all.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2018/05/28/lbj-east-okd-question-pay-24-billion-upcoming-mega-projects-remains

[Bobby5280]

I think they're going to have to do something about TX-114 between Roanoke (the TX-114 & TX-170 split) and the public school complex West of Texas Motor Speedway. Traffic along that road is getting ridiculous. Texas Motor Speedway produces enough of its own traffic on race days. Now there's a new outlet mall, a growing number of restaurants and a huge Buc-cee's travel stop across the highway. Traffic backs up at the signal lights starting at the intersection at I-35W down to the intersection at US-377. I really don't like the one at US-377. Sometimes I wonder if the TX-114 bridges over the railroad next to US-377 can take all the vehicles constantly parked on them.

[txstateends]

I think they're going to have to do something about TX-114 between Roanoke (the TX-114 & TX-170 split) and the public school complex West of Texas Motor Speedway. Traffic along that road is getting ridiculous. Texas Motor Speedway produces enough of its own traffic on race days. Now there's a new outlet mall, a growing number of restaurants and a huge Buc-cee's travel stop across the highway. Traffic backs up at the signal lights starting at the intersection at I-35W down to the intersection at US-377. I really don't like the one at US-377. Sometimes I wonder if the TX-114 bridges over the railroad next to US-377 can take all the vehicles constantly parked on them.

They didn't include priority projects from the Fort Worth district in the article, but I would guess the TX 114 section you mentioned would be one of theirs.

[Chris]

Judging by Google Earth imagery, there appears to be some grade-separation going on at SH 114 / FM 156. Which is west of the Texas Motor Speedway.

They also built a new ramp coming from Denton to the Tanger Outlet, so traffic going there doesn't have to cross the SH 114 traffic signals.

[txstateends]

IMO, the Northwest ISD school complex needs grade separation badly.  I'm pretty sure with the rate of growth out that way, the school 'rush hours' there are just crazy.

[Bobby5280]

Judging by Google Earth imagery, there appears to be some grade-separation going on at SH 114 / FM 156. Which is west of the Texas Motor Speedway.

They also built a new ramp coming from Denton to the Tanger Outlet, so traffic going there doesn't have to cross the SH 114 traffic signals.

All of the current construction activity on TX-114 just West of the Texas Motor Speedway seems only related to the new TX-114 exit with FM-156. Grade separation with Double Eagle Blvd is a little bonus (and that part was finished first). That project has been in progress for four years. I don't know why it's taking so long to finish. I've seen complex 4-level stack interchanges in the DFW area get built faster than this. It took between 2011 and 2014 just to finish the TX-114 frontage roads in front of the speedway.

The new ramp off I-35W will be convenient for people going to the Tanger Outlet or Buc-cee's. Ultimately there may need to be a freeway to freeway stack interchange built in this location. Right now freeway main lanes on TX-114 are the most urgent concern.

IMO, the Northwest ISD school complex needs grade separation badly.  I'm pretty sure with the rate of growth out that way, the school 'rush hours' there are just crazy.

I drove through that area the previous couple of weekends (trips to/from DFW airport, dining/movie watching in Southlake). The way it looks right now any potential TX-114 freeway is going to end immediately West of the new FM-156 exit. All the new pavement in front of the huge Northwest ISD school district complex is configured for standard 4 lane expressway standards with at grade intersections, traffic lights and a 20mph school zone speed limit. The combination is already creating a traffic bottleneck. And that sure won't end even if TX-114 is a full blown freeway from TX-156 into Grapevine. Westbound traffic will be coming to a screeching halt all of a sudden.

For now, there is enough vacant land next to TX-114 on its North side where the road can be widened into a freeway-with-frontage-roads configuration. A new TX-114 freeway could easily be built a mile farther West of the school, ending just past the crossing over the BNSF rail line. A new housing development just North of TX-114 built a fancy entrance that would have to be removed and re-built however. Farther West of the rail line some properties would have to be cleared in order to convert TX-114 into a freeway all the way to the US-287 interchange. But that's ultimately what really needs to be done.

[txstateends]

TxDOT wants to add service roads to I-30 over the part of Lake Ray Hubbard between Bass Pro Drive and Dalrock Road in order to ease congestion.  The project completion is set for 2023.

[longhorn]

http://drivemidtown.com/view/photos/

Updated photos of the 183 reconstruction. Again,suprised they did not use concrete.