North Fort Worth freeway main lanes public meetings

[MaxConcrete]

It looks like TxDOT is preparing to proceed with construction of main lanes on SH 114 and SH 170 in North Fort Worth. Frontage roads have been in place since 1992 for SH 170 and probably the early 2000s 1999 for SH 114

SH 170
map: http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/get-involved/ftw/sh170/i35-sh114/121919-flyer.pdf
meeting notice: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/fort-worth/121919.html

It appears this will eliminate all signalized intersections and construct most of the main lanes, but leave some gaps in the main lanes where traffic uses the frontage roads. This is somewhat of a big deal because this project was originally slated to be a toll road, but will proceed as a freeway.


SH 114: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/dallas/121719.html

This will build the main lanes between Roanoke and IH 35. The big problem today is the signalized intersection at US 377 in Roanoke, just east of the scope of this project. I'm assuming that project is proceeding separately. (Does anyone know the status?) The scope of the meeting also does not include any work at IH 35W, which will surely become a choke point when the freeway main lanes end at that location.

[Brian556]

I remember the SH 114 Roanoke Bypass/ FR's W to IH 35W being completed in 1999. If they are indeed skipping building the bridges over US 377 and the UPRR, that would just be foolish. That is obviously the next step that needs to be done.

I've long been curious as to what interchange type is planned for IH 35W/ SH 114. They have allowed a lot of new commercial development right up next to the intersection, which would be in the way of a future interchange.

[The Ghostbuster]

Imagine if other states had gone on frontage road binges like Texas has. How much congestion would have relieved by building those frontage roads?

[dariusb]

Isn't 170 going to be a massive freeway loop around the D/FW Metroplex?

[-- US 175 --]

Isn't 170 going to be a massive freeway loop around the D/FW Metroplex?

IIRR, it's supposed to be part of it, but not all of it.

[MaxConcrete]

Isn't 170 going to be a massive freeway loop around the D/FW Metroplex?

No, it's not part of a loop. SH 170 will be extended west, but it will not be a freeway or tollway. That's a mistake, in my opinion, but that's the plan.
http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot/get-involved/ftw/alliance-texas-haslet/072519-project-venue-map.pdf

There is no planned single continuous loop around the entire DFW metroplex, but on the north side the outermost loop will be the Collin County Outer Loop, which will connect into the Denton County Parkway toward the west. Some short frontage pieces of the Collin County Outer Loop have built, and plans are proceeding to build it between US 75 and DNT first.

On the south and east sides, Loop 9 and SH 190 east will be the outermost loop. Loop 9 frontage roads between IH45 and IH35E will likely start construction within a few years.
http://www.loop9.org/
http://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/projects/state-highways/sh-190-east-branch/project-overview

[dariusb]

Thanks for the clarification Max.

[Bobby5280]

The TX-114/US-377 intersection is LOUSY WITH TRAFFIC. The traffic backs up bad enough that I've wondered about those bridges over the rail road tracks just West of the intersection. The Eastbound bridge is often loaded with vehicles any time of the day.

The intersection with I-35W and TX-114 is already turning into a bad choke point, even without completed TX-114 freeway main lanes. TX DOT will have to get very creative at figuring out how to build a directional stack interchange in that location. A volleyball setup isn't going to cut it. Not with all the stuff already there (Texas Motor Speedway, Tanger Outlets, Buc-ee's, Quik Trip, a growing number of restaurants and hotels). I'm guessing the flyovers in a 4-level stack would have to be offset, centering more over the retention pond NW of the intersection. The flyovers might even have to weave through each other to get curve radii of the ramps mild enough so vehicles can take them at normal speeds.

The other big question is what's going to happen with TX-114 immediately West of I-35W? Those frontage roads haven't been there quite as long. But a freeway is still 100% warranted in that fat median. TX-114 bare minimum needs to be Interstate quality just West of the Sam's Club distribution center and the sprawling Northwest ISD school complex.

[Plutonic Panda]

A little off topic but DFW needs a Grand Parkway ring around the metro.

[Brian556]

The TX-114/US-377 intersection is LOUSY WITH TRAFFIC. The traffic backs up bad enough that I've wondered about those bridges over the rail road tracks just West of the intersection. The Eastbound bridge is often loaded with vehicles any time of the day.

The intersection with I-35W and TX-114 is already turning into a bad choke point, even without completed TX-114 freeway main lanes. TX DOT will have to get very creative at figuring out how to build a directional stack interchange in that location. A volleyball setup isn't going to cut it. Not with all the stuff already there (Texas Motor Speedway, Tanger Outlets, Buc-ee's, Quik Trip, a growing number of restaurants and hotels). I'm guessing the flyovers in a 4-level stack would have to be offset, centering more over the retention pond NW of the intersection. The flyovers might even have to weave through each other to get curve radii of the ramps mild enough so vehicles can take them at normal speeds.

The other big question is what's going to happen with TX-114 immediately West of I-35W? Those frontage roads haven't been there quite as long. But a freeway is still 100% warranted in that fat median. TX-114 bare minimum needs to be Interstate quality just West of the Sam's Club distribution center and the sprawling Northwest ISD school complex.

US 377 and SH 114 originally intersected at grade (US 377 was on Oak St, SH 114 was on NW Hwy (now Byron Nelson Blvd), obviously. The two were grade separated in 1940 when the current US 377 alignment was constructed. So, basically, in 1999, TxDOT undid this improvement after 50 years, by having the two intersect at grade once again

[rte66man]

The other big question is what's going to happen with TX-114 immediately West of I-35W? Those frontage roads haven't been there quite as long. But a freeway is still 100% warranted in that fat median. TX-114 bare minimum needs to be Interstate quality just West of the Sam's Club distribution center and the sprawling Northwest ISD school complex.

The long overdue removal of the obsolete RR overpass just west of the speedway looks to be nearly completed. https://www.google.com/maps/@33.0301602,-97.3101799,1325m/data=!3m1!1e3

Connecting to the existing lanes to the west shouldn't be too hard.  Nor should extending the lanes to the east closer to the 35W interchange.

[Bobby5280]

The railroad overpass over TX-114 next to FM-156 has been gone for around a year now.

It will be a piece of cake to built the TX-114 freeway main lanes from the split with TX-170 in Roanoke over to I-35W and past it to cover the area in front of Texas Motor Speedway. Unfortunately the area in front of the Northwest ISD school complex could possibly end up as a potential bottleneck preventing any further extension of the freeway toward Rhome and US-287. The future freeway configuration stops dead just west of the FM-156 exit. For now, there is a good amount of open space on the North side of TX-114 opposite the big school complex. Thankfully the Rivers Edge housing development just West of the Northwest ISD complex was built far enough away from TX-114 to preserve an ample set back for future freeway extension. But the really big trick is going to be preventing developers from plopping new stores right down next to the existing TX-114 main lanes.

Ultimately the TX-114 freeway really needs to be extended to US-287 in Rhome. While TX DOT obviously can't build the whole thing at once they really need to work on securing ROW for the future. The part of TX-114 just East of the US-287 split could turn into a pretty serious problem if TX DOT allows it to happen. Residential development in the Northern outskirts of Fort Worth is rapidly pushing in that direction. 20 years from now that area of the metroplex may be radically more developed than it is now. So they better get ahead of it.

[-- US 175 --]

The railroad overpass over TX-114 next to FM-156 has been gone for around a year now.

It will be a piece of cake to built the TX-114 freeway main lanes from the split with TX-170 in Roanoke over to I-35W and past it to cover the area in front of Texas Motor Speedway. Unfortunately the area in front of the Northwest ISD school complex could possibly end up as a potential bottleneck preventing any further extension of the freeway toward Rhome and US-287. The future freeway configuration stops dead just west of the FM-156 exit. For now, there is a good amount of open space on the North side of TX-114 opposite the big school complex. Thankfully the Rivers Edge housing development just West of the Northwest ISD complex was built far enough away from TX-114 to preserve an ample set back for future freeway extension. But the really big trick is going to be preventing developers from plopping new stores right down next to the existing TX-114 main lanes.

Ultimately the TX-114 freeway really needs to be extended to US-287 in Rhome. While TX DOT obviously can't build the whole thing at once they really need to work on securing ROW for the future. The part of TX-114 just East of the US-287 split could turn into a pretty serious problem if TX DOT allows it to happen. Residential development in the Northern outskirts of Fort Worth is rapidly pushing in that direction. 20 years from now that area of the metroplex may be radically more developed than it is now. So they better get ahead of it.

There was actually an article recently involving a former ranch on the west side of US 287 between Rhome and Newark.  It spans 3400 acres, and is being developed with an eventual 10,000 homes there.  So interest and development are definitely coming that way for sure.