Future plans for the interchange at IH 635 and IH 35E

[MaxConcrete]

Public meeting materials were posted today, including the preliminary schematic

https://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/projects/interstate-highways/i635-i35e

While the design could have been more ambitious, I think it is realistic when considering the constraints, especially IH 635 to the east.

Observations

• All existing general-purpose (non-managed lanes) connectors are replaced. This includes the freaky left exit loop connector on IH-35E northbound.
• Managed lanes structures remain intact with no changes.
• Both IH 635 and IH 35E frontage roads connect through the interchange. Neither frontage road currently exists through the interchange.
• The existing left exit from IH-635 westbound to IH-35E southbound is planned to be a traditional right-side exit.
• On IH-635 west of the interchange, there is unused pavement which is a provision for future westward extension of the managed lanes.
• IH-35E main lanes stay together - the wide split at the interchange is eliminated
• Six of the eight connectors have only one lane. I would have liked to see more two-lane connectors, but lane balance problems appear to make the one-lane ramps necessary. Also, I'm not sufficiently familiar with current traffic conditions to say that two lanes are actually needed on all the one-lane ramps.
• Environmental clearance is scheduled for spring 2026. There's no schedule or cost estimate for construction, but I would be very surprised if construction begins before the 2030s.

[BJ59]

Do you think they will make the managed direct connector ramps free while they are demolishing/rebuilding the old free direct connector ramps?

[MaxConcrete]

Do you think they will make the managed direct connector ramps free while they are demolishing/rebuilding the old free direct connector ramps?

The managed lanes are privately owned, so I don't expect them to be toll free. You can see on the schematics that there is very little or no overlap of the existing and planned ramps. So I expect existing ramps to remain open until they are replaced, similar to what is being done at interchange at IH 635 and IH 30.