DFW: SH 121 Sam Rayburn Tollway widening underway, and other updates

[MaxConcrete]

https://www.ntta.org/newsresources/reports/projectprogressreports/Documents/current_cpr/CPR_SRT_4thLaneProj._secure.pdf

According to the NTTA progress report, work has begun on widening the entire 26-mile corridor from 3x3 to 4x4. I drove the SRT from DNT to its western end at Denton Tap Road on Monday and I did not see any signs of work, which of course is expected since they are probably in the pre-construction mode. I drove it around 8:30AM and the westbound traffic was quite heavy with a big slowdown in the Lewisville area, so this widening is definitely needed. It is nice that the entire corridor is being done, rather than the section-by-section approach used on the Bush Turnpike.

Here are more progress reports from NTTA
Bush: https://www.ntta.org/newsresources/reports/projectprogressreports/Documents/current_cpr/CPR_PGBT_4thLaneProj._secure.pdf
DNT (work substantially complete): https://www.ntta.org/newsresources/reports/projectprogressreports/Documents/current_cpr/CPR_DNT-ImprovProj._secure.pdf
DNT north extension: https://www.ntta.org/newsresources/reports/projectprogressreports/Documents/current_cpr/CPR_DNT4_secure.pdf

There is also an update for regional (non-NTTA) projects. I'm glad to read that right-of-way acquisition and design for the Collin County Outer Loop between US 75 and DNT appears to be proceeding well.
https://www.ntta.org/newsresources/reports/projectprogressreports/Documents/current_cpr/CPR_RegionalProjects_secure.pdf

[Plutonic Panda]

This is much, much needed! I still think they could get a decent amount of traffic if they connected it at I-35 in Gainesville.

[Road Hog]

They're finally extending the DNT over 380, a move that needed to be done 10 years ago. The southbound access road for the DNT is also in progress south from FM 428, but Prosper may be fully built out before the main lanes are finished.

[r15-1]

This is much, much needed! I still think they could get a decent amount of traffic if they connected it at I-35 in Gainesville.

Except that Lake Ray Roberts and all of its headwaters are in any direct path between the Collin-Grayson county line just southwest of Gunter and Gainesville.

The preferred alternative for the Grayson County Tollway extension that connects to US 75 north of Denison is shown in the linked map.
https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/par/grayson_tollway/gct_route/overall_map.pdf

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^^ bridges bridges bridges

[r15-1]

^^^^ bridges bridges bridges

Not needed with the Regional Outer Loop planned to go south of Lake Ray Roberts and 4-lane divided US 82 already in place to the north. The GCT would serve better as a relief route for US 75 as currently proposed.

[Bobby5280]

With the way the DFW region is growing I would not be surprised if US-82 has to be upgraded to Interstate standards between Gainesville and Sherman. TX DOT at least needs to start securing ROW for a potential upgrade. There are plans for a reliever route around Gainesville.

[rte66man]

This is much, much needed! I still think they could get a decent amount of traffic if they connected it at I-35 in Gainesville.

Except that Lake Ray Roberts and all of its headwaters are in any direct path between the Collin-Grayson county line just southwest of Gunter and Gainesville.

The preferred alternative for the Grayson County Tollway extension that connects to US 75 north of Denison is shown in the linked map.
https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/par/grayson_tollway/gct_route/overall_map.pdf

Looks like someone that loves the least direct route drew that map.  Agree with Plupan that there should at least be a western branch that connects with US82 west of Whitesboro.

[Road Hog]

This is much, much needed! I still think they could get a decent amount of traffic if they connected it at I-35 in Gainesville.

This was roughly the proposed route of Rick Perry's Trans Texas Corridor. Beyond that, my guess is Grayson County got proactive and jumped on its own tollway plan while Cooke County snoozed.

[Bobby5280]

The preferred alternative for the Grayson County Tollway extension that connects to US 75 north of Denison is shown in the linked map.
https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/par/grayson_tollway/gct_route/overall_map.pdf

Looks like someone that loves the least direct route drew that map.

My guess is they just love how I-69 between Evansville and Bloomington looks on the map and just wanted to emulate that. It's either that or they used an Etch-A-Sketch while attempting to draw a diagonal line from Prosper up to Denison. It's pretty awful. Here in Oklahoma I can kind of understand why some of our state highways make 90 degree turns around various farm properties and other stuff here and there. It makes a little less sense for a freeway or turnpike to make turns almost like it's following the section line roads. The end result is a toll road probably 10 miles longer than it needs to be. I'm sure motorists will be paying for all those extra miles in added tolls too.