TX: US 81/287 Upgrades in Progress North of Fort Worth

[Bobby5280]

There are at least some real plans at upgrading US-287 to Interstate standards from the split with I-35W up to the interchange with TX-114 in Rhome. After that there are only modest spot upgrades proposed between Rhome and Decatur. No upgrades on US-287 appear to be planned at all within Decatur itself. Then there is a modest single interchange being proposed North of the flashing yellow lights at the Old Chico Road intersection. That's about it.

It's pretty shocking how fast new homes and other commercial structures are getting built North and Northwest of Fort Worth. There is some new 2/2024 imagery in Google Earth that shows areas around US-287 North of Fort Worth just getting packed in with new homes FAST. This growth is spreading toward Decatur. Traffic counts within the vicinity of the metro are going to keep rising.

The US-287 projects I mentioned between I-35W and TX-114 won't begin construction until 2026 (if they are funded). If TX DOT started drafting plans right now on US-287 upgrade designs North of Decatur it would probably be 2030 before any actual work began. The way that region of North Texas is growing that segment of US-287 between Decatur and Alvord could really be covered up in a bunch of commercial development. It could be a real mess and traffic hazard before long.

Honestly, US-287 should have been Interstate quality from at least I-35W to the existing freeway bypassing Bowie years ago. Upgrades are overdue.

[Rothman]

Huh.  I was wondering about home building near Fort Worth.  A friend had been benefitting from the real estate market in that area.

Have to say it helped in her recent divorce, but she moved back to be near family in Utah...

[MaxConcrete]

News report in the Fort Worth Star Telegram, "$1.5 billion in road projects planned along US 287. Here's the timeline"

I excerpted the article text relating to US 287. Two projects are scheduled to start next near, with a third project in 2029. The article also describes work on the AllianceTexas smart bridge (a long connector west of the intersection at SH 170 and I-35W), the Haslet Parkway, Bonds Ranch and FM 1220.

Over the next several years, north Tarrant County will see roughly $1.5 billion of investments to "build a spine" of improved roads and highways. The goal is to lessen the bottlenecks along Interstate 35W, U.S. 287, Loop 820, Avondale-Haslet Road, Bonds Ranch Road and Boat Club Road.

The U.S. 287 corridor will see a number of projects aimed at reducing congestion from Interstate 35W to the Tarrant-Wise county line with additional lanes, new roads and highway ramps.

...segments of construction will happen as funding becomes available. The first section will cost $78 million and create an interchange at Northstar Parkway. Construction on the four-lane bridge with turn lanes is set to begin June 2027.

In summer 2029, construction begins to create continuous one-way frontage roads on each side from Avondale-Haslet Road to Harmon Road. The project will relocate entrance and exit ramps to help alleviate congestion from surrounding neighborhoods. The project will cost about $230 million and is already fully-funded, Salazar said.

In spring 2027, an $80 million interchange at Harmon Road and North Tarrant Road will be constructed to create a double cross at U.S. 287 instead of one with two roundabouts.

[Plutonic Panda]

That's not very promising and I don't see that article claiming $1.5 worth of projects for 287. It looks like it is saying that for the entire county?? The first 287 project isn't starting until 2029? Damn. This needed to be an interstate yesterday. What are the chances Texas actually takes this on and puts a real effort into this corridor? I imagine small due to other pressing needs.

[Bobby5280]

Yeah, this just sounds like stuff that is many years overdue. And the focus on US-287 is mainly between Avondale-Haslet Road and I-35W. NorthStar Parkway will be a new freeway exit just North of Avondale-Haslet Road. Another 4.5 miles of continuous frontage roads are needed between NorthStar Parkway and the TX-114 split. The most expensive project (other than re-building US-287 main lanes) is a new intersection of Harmon Road and North Tarrant Parkway that would be bridged above US-287. That intersection is the first exit West of I-35W.

The main lanes of US-287 between I-35W and TX-114 are in some pretty sorry shape. As fast as that area has been adding housing subdivisions, logistics buildings, etc. it may not be enough to re-build the main lanes with 3 lanes in both directions. At least some of it may have to be a 4x4 configuration.

And then there's the segment of US-287 between Rhome and Decatur. That's overdue for an Interstate quality upgrade. Decatur itself poses some serious challenges. TX DOT let this shit go for 25 years too long.

[splashflash]

https://www.zabalist.com/bids/txdot_0014-15-035

Description
RECONSTRUCT NB AND SB EXIT RAMP TO HARMON ROAD/NORTH TARRANT PARKWAY AND SB ENTRANCE RAMP FROM HARMON ROAD

Type of Work: Reconstruction

Highway: US 81

Location: N of Harmon Road to N of IH 35W

County: Tarrant

Working Days: 666.0

Estimated cost:$74.34M

Engineer's estimate / low bid estimate from TxDOT

Oversight: State

Federal Project #F 2026(891)


Spec Book Year: 2024.0

[BJ59]

What ever happened to the US 287 widening project between I-35W and Avondale-Haslet Rd? I thought a widening project was supposed to open up in 2026.

[splashflash]

What ever happened to the US 287 widening project between I-35W and Avondale-Haslet Rd? I thought a widening project was supposed to open up in 2026.

Ha!  A few interchanges start construction next year while extra lanes and frontage road work is in plans for 2029.  See post #27 Progress North of Fort Worth in this thread.  This is all budgeted.