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[November 2005] Welcome to the next edition of the IH635 (LBJ) Freeway "Now News". The goal of this page is to provide viewers the current status of the LBJ Corridor Study.  Updates and editions have been highlighted in "red". Click here to view the June 2005 edition of "Now News".

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Flash: Community Open House | RFQ | Minute Order Passes | Contact Information | Procurement | Funding
Project News: West | Tunnel | East | Mesquite | West Early Frontage Road | Drainage | Urban Design | Operations
Older News: Project Status | Bullet Points | FAQ | Dallas High Five | Value Pricing

Flash

The West Section Public Hearing has held on June 5th, 2003. Over 230 people were in attendance. There was generally an overwhelming outpouring of support/relief for the project to conclude the planning process. The environmental documentation was forwarded to Austin for further processing with the FHWA receiving a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) on April 29, 2004.

West Section Freeway and Tunnel Sections - This is one of the key priorities for the LBJ Corridor Study to move into the design and implementation process. This will be a large project for TxDOT.

For the East Section, progress is ongoing to move forward with project elements to move further into the design stage. This work is concentrated in four areas: 1) An "Early Frontage Road" project between Miller and Oates. The exact implementation length has yet to be determined, Preliminary work rolls have been reviewed with the section from Northwest Highway to Oates / LaPrada as being the designated priority section, 2) Ground level improvements in support of the future Skillman/Audelia flyover improvements, 3) A pedestrian bridge project adjacent to the DART crossing, and 4) An early action HOV lane from US 75 to north of IH 30 has been targeted for completion in June 2007. The schematic and environmental document has been submitted to Austin for further processing as a categorical exclusion. This has been obtained. The PS&E phase has also just started for the project. The project is planned to receive bids (let) in February 2006.

The Mesquite Section Phase I project is now complete.  See pictures of the project during construction under Project Information. Traffic is now using the completed bridge. The Phase II project was let in October of 2005 and will begin construction in January 2006.

West Early Frontage Roads (Hillcrest to Merit) - Work began on the PS&E in April of 2002 for this funded project. The 65% set of plans has been reviewed. A draft copy of the right-of-way (ROW) needs for the project has been submitted and reviewed. The timely acquisition of ROW and resolution of utility relocations will determine the start date for this project. Some alignment changes have been made to improve traffic circulation and alter the adjacent impacts and to minimize construction costs.

IH 635 Hydrological/Hydraulic Drainage Study - Work has been underway since the fall of 2002. This multi-year project will develop the baseline hydrology and hydraulic design for the future designers to use on the East, and West section projects. Both the West Section and the East Section results have now been completed. This study will provide TxDOT and the adjacent municipalities a head start on future drainage coordination issues.

Urban Design - The Dallas District may consider a District-wide approach to "Aesthetics" for area projects.  A prior effort along these lines has been developed.  In the mean time, several projects in the District are proceeding in developing effective aesthetic treatments.  A recent presentation was made highlighting these treatments.  Check out the new items in Project Information. A separate PDF slide show for the Dallas High Five Interchange has been included to describe the column, wall and color treatments for the interchange. Provide any feedback you have to us at DALINFO@dot.state.tx.us , and we will promptly provide a reply. Progress is being made in furthering a design effort for inclusion into the CDA project documents. This effort is building on the LBJ Urban Design Program components and will be shared as it is developed further as a project document.

The Mesquite Section has gone forward with aesthetic treatments for Towne Centre Drive and will also include aesthetic treatments for the Town East Blvd intersections. This look will integrate surrounding features into the visual design of the bridges, walls, pedestrian and landscape components. Portions of these elements are now in place. Picture files contained in the Project Information section now show what these aesthetic features will look like for the Mesquite Section when the project is completed. You can now compare the built elements with the rendering for the Mesquite section. The construction pictures in the Project Information section show how these elements looked just after the bridge opened in November 2003. The fence on the south side is to provide a comfort screen for pedestrians as they walk across the bridge from the traffic below.

Operational Schematic - The LBJ Project Office will continue to work with the District staff to determine a plan of attack to complete this work. Additional coordination with the PcE will integrate the global needs of the project as the defining process for the project continues.

Current Planning Status and Project Approval Update:

FAQ Update:

There are now ten questions to date (5/12/2005) which have been submitted and answered. There are likely many more questions that can be asked with corresponding answers provided. This is a tool provided to aid all of us in understanding the project better.

Any questions specifically relating to the Procurement Engineer or future solicitations will be answered through a link on the TxDOT Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA) web site or www.dot.state.tx.us/tta/contract/request.htm.

Frequently Asked Questions  As we begin to move various parts of the project into the design phase, some very good questions are being asked. Many of those questions are related to the West Section implementation plan. Answers to those questions and others as received will be provided via this Internet site. Please send in your questions according to one of the following methods.

Texas Department of Transportation
Dallas District Office - LBJ Project Manager
Attn: John Hudspeth, P.E.
Mail: P.O. BOX 133067; Dallas, TX 75313-6643
Fax: 214-320-4490
E-Mail: jhudsp1@dot.state.tx.us

or

Texas Department of Transportation
Dallas District Office - CDA/Tollway Director
Attn: Matthew E. MacGregor, P.E.
Mail: P.O. BOX 133067; Dallas, TX 75313-6643
Fax: 214-319-6580
E-Mail: mmacgre@dot.state.tx.us

In your request please provide a return address, and phone number on company letterhead if possible.

Each question received will be grouped and categorized if there are similar questions.  The author of the question will not be indicated with the question or answer.

Dallas High Five - IH 635 / US 75 Interchange:

The $262 million five level interchange had its official groundbreaking on Jan 4, 2002.   If you are in Dallas take an opportunity and give yourself some extra time by driving through the project. The project is scheduled to finish more than one year ahead of schedule with substantial completion by the end of this year. All the direct connection structures utilizing pre-cast segments have been opened to traffic. Only the HOV direct connector is not open for traffic.  Provide us feedback on the work in progress for the column, bridge and wall color scheme as they continue to appear throughout the project. Check out the Project Information page for added items on the aesthetics.

Federal Highway Administration to Fund Phase 1 of the Regional Value Pricing Sketch Plan:

The North Central Texas Council of Governments is the lead agency on this regional cooperative effort to develop and to apply pricing strategies to regional transportation facilities. The study has been funded by the Federal Highway Administration for a total cost of $190,000 with a local match of $38,000.   Work began in January of 2003. The completion of this study occurred in June of 2005. The results of this study will provide a framework for the initiation, development and implementation of managed lanes through Value pricing for the North Texas Region.

THE REPORTS, DATA, PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, MATERIALS, ANALYSES AND INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE FOR INFORMATION AND REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE PROVIDED AS AN ACCOMMODATION TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND PARTIES INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT AND ITS PROGRESS. THE DEPARTMENT EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF SUCH ITEMS AND RECIPIENTS AND VIEWERS OF THESE ITEMS SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO RELY UPON SUCH ITEMS FOR ANY PURPOSE. IF AND TO THE EXTENT THE DEPARTMENT INITIATES A PROCUREMENT CONCERNING THE PROJECT, THE DEPARTMENT WILL SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFY IN THE PROCUREMENT DOCUMENTS AND SOLICITATION MATERIALS WHICH ITEMS, IF ANY, MAY BE RELIED UPON BY INTERESTED PARTIES (AS WELL AS THE EXTENT OF SUCH PERMITTED RELIANCE).