Upgrading full length of I-35W to 6 lanes: Any plans in the works?

[thisdj78]

I have driven I-35W and I-35E several times in the last few months and it seemed like W was just as busy, if not busier than E (even when taking the 4 lane vs 6 lane into account). I looked up daily traffic counts on each stretch just north of Hillsboro and it's 37K for W and 39K for E. I'm surprised 35W hasn't been upgraded to 6 lanes yet or it wasn't done at the same time that 35E was a few years ago. Anyone heard of any plans?

[BJ59]

I think there are plans and even studies underway to upgrade I-35W from Texas Motor Speedway to the I-35 interchange to 6 lanes. I have also seen plans to expand the express lanes all the way up to Denton too but I think those are planned for around 2050.

As for I-35W south of the metro I'm not sure, but I think they need to expand it to 8 lanes from Fort Worth to Burleson and to 6 lanes from at least Burleson to Alvarado.

[thisdj78]

I think there are plans and even studies underway to upgrade I-35W from Texas Motor Speedway to the I-35 interchange to 6 lanes. I have also seen plans to expand the express lanes all the way up to Denton too but I think those are planned for around 2050.

As for I-35W south of the metro I'm not sure, but I think they need to expand it to 8 lanes from Fort Worth to Burleson and to 6 lanes from at least Burleson to Alvarado.

I think I remember some plans for expansion down to Alvarado but not the segment between there and Hillsboro.

[Bobby5280]

Traffic counts on I-35E to the North of Hillsboro start ballooning near Waxahachie on up. The six-laning project on I-35E from the E/W split to Milford looks like it is pretty much completed. Of course there are several other big super highway expansion projects in the DFW area.

South of Fort Worth I think I-35W should be expanded from 3x3 to 4x4 lanes between I-20 and the split with Wilshire Blvd (TX-174). I-35W drops to 2x2 lanes South of that Y-split now. I don't know if I-35W needs to be expanded to 3x3 all the way down to Hillsboro. It should be 3x3 down at least as far as Alvarado.

North of Fort Worth I'm surprised I-35W wasn't already upgraded to at least 3x3 lanes all the way up to Denton. I can't tell for sure what the I-35W expansion project from the US-287 split up to Alliance Airport is going to deliver as a finished product. I have a sneaking suspicion it will be a 2x2x2x2 configuration like I-820 East of the I-35W interchange. Meanwhile the segment of I-35W crossing TX-114 should probably be a 4x4 configuration rather than the 2x2 nonsense that it is now.

[motorola870]

Traffic counts on I-35E to the North of Hillsboro start ballooning near Waxahachie on up. The six-laning project on I-35E from the E/W split to Milford looks like it is pretty much completed. Of course there are several other big super highway expansion projects in the DFW area.

South of Fort Worth I think I-35W should be expanded from 3x3 to 4x4 lanes between I-20 and the split with Wilshire Blvd (TX-174). I-35W drops to 2x2 lanes South of that Y-split now. I don't know if I-35W needs to be expanded to 3x3 all the down to Hillsboro. It should be 3x3 down at least as far as Alvarado.

North of Fort Worth I'm surprised I-35W wasn't upgraded to at least 3x3 lanes all the way up to Denton. I can't tell for sure what the I-35W expansion project from the US-287 split up to Alliance Airport is going to deliver as a finished product. I have a sneaking suspicion it will be a 2x2x2x2 configuration like I-820 East of the I-35W interchange. Meanwhile the segment of I-35W crossing TX-114 should probably be a 4x4 configuration rather than the 2x2 nonsense that it is now.

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/fort-worth/i35w-corridor.html

Project Study is under way with initial plans to make I35W a 3x3 from Renfro St./FM3391 to the CR405 interchange on the south side of Alvarado.

[BJ59]

I can't tell for sure what the I-35W expansion project from the US-287 split up to Alliance Airport is going to deliver as a finished product. I have a sneaking suspicion it will be a 2x2x2x2 configuration like I-820 East of the I-35W interchange.

That stretch was finished in June and it is a 2x2x2x2. I think there is also room to add a 3rd main lane in each direction.

[Bobby5280]

Good grief. 2x2x2x2.

It turns out there is 12/2023 Google Street View imagery on I-35W through parts of the finished project. From what I can see it sure doesn't look like there is any room for additional lanes. Not unless an additional lane would be allowed to eat up shoulder area (which would be a bad idea).

[In_Correct]

A reason why Interstate 35W seems busier than Interstate 35E ( and possesses numerous traffic jams ) is be cause a segment between Interstate 35 and Exit 70 has no Frontage Roads around. The moment the traffic flows again is typically near the area that Frontage Roads begin. Before they increase a 2 X 2 configuration to a 3 X 3 configuration, it is best for them to be constructing the Frontage Roads first.

[Bobby5280]

Denton Creek is a natural obstacle for extending frontage roads North of Dale Earnhardt Blvd. A 3x3 widening project for I-35W thru that area would require seriously modifying or replacing several bridges going over the creek.

Frontage roads for I-35W probably do need to be built from the Cross Timbers Road exit (just North of Denton Creek) on North up to (maybe Vintage Blvd), near the I-35E/W split. There is a lot of new housing subdivisions being built in that area (Justin, Corral City, etc). Hickory Creek is another obstacle just North of the Vintage Blvd exit. I don't think frontage roads are necessary there since a bunch of that land looks like it's in a flood plain.

[thisdj78]

A reason why Interstate 35W seems busier than Interstate 35E ( and possesses numerous traffic jams ) is be cause a segment between Interstate 35 and Exit 70 has no Frontage Roads around. The moment the traffic flows again is typically near the area that Frontage Roads begin. Before they increase a 2 X 2 configuration to a 3 X 3 configuration, it is best for them to be constructing the Frontage Roads first.

I was initially using the segments just north of Hillsboro as an example. Neither side has frontage roads in that area.