Euless: SH 183 Managed lanes project

[MaxConcrete]

TxDOT held a consultant meeting for the addition of managed lanes along SH 183 between SH 121 and International Parkway (DFW Airport entrance). This section is on the southwest side of DFW Airport.

Presentation

Observations

• The existing managed lanes vary from 2 to 4 and are at freeway level in the center of the freeway.
• The proposed managed lanes are entirely on elevated structures and mostly above the frontage roads. See pages 9-12 in the presentation. The presentation says two managed lanes in each direction, but the low-resolution schematic appears to show three lanes in each direction.
• It appears that the existing managed lanes will be converted to general-purpose lanes, which will provide 5x5 and 4x4 sections.
• Page 10 in the presentation shows indications for future eastward expansion.
  
• No new right-of-way required. This is the new political reality, and forces TxDOT to build elevated structures.
• Cost is listed at $1.7 billion
• Contract award is scheduled for 2027.
• This appears to be a TxDOT project, not a public-private partnership. This project was originally expected to be done privately, most likely by Cintra. But I don't see any indication of private participation in the presentation.
• The project is not specifically identified as a toll project, but page 21 mentions toll tasks for the consultant, so it appears the managed lanes will be tolled.

[Bobby5280]

Given the heavy $1.7 billion cost, I would have expected the elevated express lanes to be tolled. I'll bet the tolls won't be cheap either! I'll like them getting rid of the existing at-grade express lanes along that stretch, particularly the lanes that drop down to single lanes in each direction. IMHO, barrier separated express lanes should be a minimum of 2 lanes, either reversible or 2 lanes in each direction.

[longhorn]

TxDOT held a consultant meeting for the addition of managed lanes along SH 183 between SH 121 and International Parkway (DFW Airport entrance). This section is on the southwest side of DFW Airport.

Presentation

Observations

• The existing managed lanes vary from 2 to 4 and are at freeway level in the center of the freeway.
• The proposed managed lanes are entirely on elevated structures and mostly above the frontage roads. See pages 9-12 in the presentation. The presentation says two managed lanes in each direction, but the low-resolution schematic appears to show three lanes in each direction.
• It appears that the existing managed lanes will be converted to general-purpose lanes, which will provide 5x5 and 4x4 sections.
• Page 10 in the presentation shows indications for future eastward expansion.
  
• No new right-of-way required. This is the new political reality, and forces TxDOT to build elevated structures.
• Cost is listed at $1.7 billion
• Contract award is scheduled for 2027.
• This appears to be a TxDOT project, not a public-private partnership. This project was originally expected to be done privately, most likely by Cintra. But I don't see any indication of private participation in the presentation.
• The project is not specifically identified as a toll project, but page 21 mentions toll tasks for the consultant, so it appears the managed lanes will be tolled.

Was not this stretch just rebuilt a couple of years ago?

[Chris]

It was rebuilt in 2015-2018, but this part of Midtown Express was considered to be an 'interim' configuration.

This design would double the capacity from 8 to 16 lanes (3 express + 5 general purpose in each direction).

[longhorn]

That makes sense now, it made no sense to rebuild the roadway and not add true capacity. So once the managed lanes are elevated, the now managed lanes will have the concrete barrier removed and be combined with the free lanes. A significant capacity increase.

[Plutonic Panda]

This is awesome. I wish we'd see projects like that out here in southern california, particularly LA.

[The Ghostbuster]

California seems like the last place anything like this will ever be constructed. I have a feeling that the Interstate 110 elevated lanes will be the only ones to ever exist in the entire state. Otherwise, they probably would have built elevated lanes over Interstate 710, Interstate 605, and anywhere else right-of-way constraints and local opposition prevented expanding the roadways outward.

[Plutonic Panda]

California seems like the last place anything like this will ever be constructed. I have a feeling that the Interstate 110 elevated lanes will be the only ones to ever exist in the entire state. Otherwise, they probably would have built elevated lanes over Interstate 710, Interstate 605, and anywhere else right-of-way constraints and local opposition prevented expanding the roadways outward.

Probably a better chance of it happening here than Oregon or New York.