The Texas Department of Transportation undertook the preliminary engineering and environmental assessment (PE/EA) on improvements to SH 183 (Airport Freeway) from Year 2001 to 2004. The general study area is indicated on the project map below and covers east-west transportation needs along existing SH 183 from SH 360 to IH 35E. Generally, the study area includes west Dallas, central Irving, northeast Fort Worth, and the southern area of DFW International Airport. This Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) PE/EA was an extension of the SH 183 / West Fork Corridor Major Investment Study completed in 2000. The design schematic was completed in November 2003. The final public hearing for the SH 183 environmental assessment was held on December 16, 2003. The FHWA issued its Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on February 10, 2004. In March 2004, TxDOT received an unsolicited proposal for a Comprehensive Development Agreement (CDA) to design, reconstruct, operate and maintain SH 183 from IH 35E to IH 820, and IH 820 over to IH 35W. This CDA proposal includes revising SH 183 Managed HOV Lanes from 2-3 lanes reversible to 2 lanes in each direction in Dallas County. The schematic revision and environmental assessment reevaluation are currently on-going, with the public hearing expected in late 2005.

ROADWAY HISTORY

SH 183 has been a major transportation corridor since the 1940’s. In 1959, SH 183 was reconstructed from a two-lane asphalt roadway to a four-lane divided freeway with frontage roads. At that time, SH 183 had a design speed of only 50 miles per hour (mph). In response to population and employment growth in the DFW region, an additional main lane in each direction was added in 1973. Since 1973, no major operational improvements to SH 183 have been constructed within the project limits. As a result, SH 183 is not capable of handling current and future traffic demand in its current condition.

PURPOSE AND NEED FOR PROJECT

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve mobility for effective transportation of people, goods, and services; reduce traffic congestion to accommodate traffic growth associated with planned development; and improve safety on SH 183.

The long-range transportation plans for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex show a trend of increased travel in the SH 183 corridor as a result of urban growth throughout the area, as evidenced by the traffic projections below.

Current traffic volumes on SH 183 are 20% to 50% over capacity daily. The trend toward urban growth in this area along with the current heavy travel demand necessitates improvements to existing facilities.

Transportation improvements are needed in the SH 183 corridor to address facility deficiencies as well as current and projected transportation demands. The existing design deficiencies include: lack of shoulders, service road intersections without adequate turn lanes, closely spaced ramps with substandard merge tapers and spacing, and pavement structure that is approaching the end of its design life. Other design deficiencies include inadequate clearances that range from 13’ to 14’6" on the existing main lane bridges over Story Road, MacArthur Blvd., O’Connor Rd. and Carl Rd. These deficiencies also create safety concerns on SH 183.

The SH 183 / West Fork Corridor Major Investment Study (MIS), initiated by TxDOT in March 1998 with a final report issued in April 2000, focused on transportation needs for east-west travel in the SH 183 corridor from SH 360 to I-35E. The final plan of action for the SH 183/West Fork Corridor Project was comprised of seven major elements:

• Enhanced work trip reduction measures.
• Improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
• Enhanced transportation facility management.
• Addition of a second track for the Trinity Railway Express’ commuter rail transit.
• Improvements to major east-west arterials, including Irving Blvd., Rock Island Road, Trinity Blvd., and Hunter Ferrell Road, as well as over 100 signalization and intersection improvements.
• Reconstruction of SH 183 with widening from six to eight general-purpose main lanes, and a two to three lane reversible managed high occupancy vehicle (HOV) system. The SH 183 improvements extend from east of SH 360 to west of IH 35E.
• A new reliever roadway constructed as a tollway east of Loop 12 to the proposed Trinity Parkway, and as a regional arterial between SH 360 and Loop 12 with provisions for an extension west of SH 360 to Ft. Worth.
  

SH 183 PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS

Within the study corridor, SH 183 is a six-lane divided freeway with two-lane discontinuous service roads on each side.

The proposed improvements, shown on the typical section below, consist of widening the freeway to eight general-purpose main lanes (four in each direction) and adding a concurrent flow (two lanes each direction) Managed Lane system. The proposed project follows the existing highway alignment, with no sections proposed on new locations. The project needs 72.6 acres of right-of-way from 199 parcels, with 2 residential and 64 business displacements. Right-of-way needs are under reevaluation.

PROJECT FUNDING

The SH 183 project improvements are estimated to cost approximately $762 million (Year 2003 $), which includes $93 million for right-of-way acquisition, $545 million in construction cost, $16 million in utility relocations, Managed HOV Toll Collection System $7 Million and $101 million for design & development-related costs. These costs are under reevaluation. The project would be funded with a combination of CDA Developer and local, state, and federal funds, as yet unallocated.

The Dallas District Office of TxDOT is managing the SH 183 project. The project manager is Nasser Askari, P.E. You may write to Mr. Askari at TxDOT, P.O. Box 133067, Dallas Texas 75313-3067, call (214) 320-6628, fax (214) 320-4470 or e-mail: naskari@dot.state.tx.us

For more information, see TxDOT’s project web site: http://www.dot.state.tx.us/mis/mis.htm