This new video rendering shows a full project fly-over of what the completed LBJ Express Project will look like from above.  You will notice the TEXpress (priced-lanes) to the outside along I-35 and on the inside along I-635.  In many areas, these will be subterranean along I-635.  All said and done, there will be 2-3 frontage road lanes in each direction, 4 non-tolled lanes in each direction and 3 priced lanes (TEXpress Lanes) in each directions along I-635.

Janie Bordner, Administrative Director of Metrocrest Community Clinic, discusses the LBJ Express Project.

The briefing was part of the ongoing communication effort by the LBJ Express Project team to ensure key stakeholders are aware of progress and upcoming construction plans. The forum allowed the officials to learn about upcoming designs and construction prior to the public announcement, as well as to ask questions about what drivers will experience over the next few months so they can help communicate that information to their constituents.

The LBJ Express Project team and TXDOT briefed some two dozen attendees, including local elected officials from Dallas County and surrounding cities, as well as staff members from the offices of area state and federal lawmakers.

TxDOT’s Bill Hale addresses the crowd

Project leadership team

Over the coming weeks, drivers  will witness innovative efforts of project planners to increase local mobility for adjacent businesses and motorist by ramping up construction of bypass lanes and frontage roads in many areas between the Dallas North Tollway and I-35.  

WHY?

• By taking advantage of lower summertime traffic volumes it will allow for the opening of the new continuous frontage roads and all the bypass lanes this year rather than the end of 2015.
• Providing improved incident responses in the corridor and increasing local mobility for adjacent businesses and the traveling public.

HOW?

• One main lane in each direction of LBJ between I-35 and the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) will be utilized to construct bypass lanes 2 years earlier than planned.
• Upcoming Configuration – 3 lanes with 10’ shoulders and longer ramps, in most areas, providing emergency vehicle access for incident responses.

BENEFITS

DURATION?

• The 3 lane configuration will be in place until the end of the project, however as progress is made new pavement will open.

CONSTRUCTION GOALS

Construction Goals

MAP OF UPCOMING OPERATIONS IN PLACE BY THANKSGIVING

CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS OPEN BY THANKSGIVING

Note: A bypass lane is an auxiliary lane that allows drivers to bypass signals at major intersections.  They allow for the continuous flow of traffic along the frontage road.

“The LBJ Express team has been working non-stop for the past 30 months to complete this massive project on time and on budget for the long-term benefit of area drivers, businesses and neighborhoods,” said Andy Rittler, director of corporate affairs for the LBJ Infrastructure Group LLC, the project’s developer.

Here is a snapshot of what has been accomplished, to date, and what to expect in the months ahead:

Roadway. The LBJ Express project is now 53.98 percent complete, with some 25 miles of new lanes already in use. When the LBJ Express opens in December 2015, drivers will enjoy approximately 200 miles of newly-constructed lanes, including continuous access roads and time-saving bypass lanes, as well as four general purpose lanes in each direction, and up to six TEXpress toll lanes.

Josey to 35E

Bridges. To accommodate as many as six additional lanes on I-635, the LBJ Express team has demolished and rebuilt 10 major bridge crossings and overpasses, including the Joe Ratlcliff bridge, which opened September 2012, and Rosser  bridge, which opened October 2012. After a complicated process involving not only road engineers, but also numerous utility companies, the new Preston Road bridge and the new Marsh Lane bridge will both be opened to full capacity by the end of May.

Business and Job Growth. The LBJ Express project has subcontracted with more than 200 firms for a variety of services such as demolition, utility relocation, concrete manufacturing, dust reduction, environmental impact studies, to name a few. More than 2,000 North Texans have been employed as a result of the LBJ Express project, bringing an estimated $2 billion into the local economy.

Additionally, the LBJ Express project has created and underwritten a unique marketing initiative to promote the businesses adjacent to the construction zone. More than 350 local companies have joined the LBJ Express Marketplace, which provides free online advertising and consumer incentives to drive customers to shop, dine and spend money at nearby businesses.

Traffic Impact. The LBJ Express project logged about 4,000 lane closures and 150 traffic shifts, with major construction activities taking place in the overnight and weekend hours, as required by TXDOT and surrounding cities, in order to minimize the impact during peak hours and reduce the amount of traffic cutting through nearby neighborhoods.

Public Engagement.  Some 10,000 proactive North Texans are subscribed to LBJ Express email updates and text message traffic alerts, with another 9,000+ people per month visiting lbjexpress.com and lbjexpressblog.com to make sure they are in-the-know about current traffic-causing driving incidents, as well as upcoming construction schedules .

Josey to Marsh

Looking Ahead. Over the coming weeks, drivers  will witness innovative efforts of project planners to increase local mobility for adjacent businesses and the traveling public by ramping up construction of bypass lanes and frontage roads in many areas between the Dallas North Tollway and I-35.  Summer traffic is normally lighter so we will utilize one main lane in each direction to allow us to complete the frontage roads and bypass lanes this year, rather than 2015.  Beginning in June, LBJ will have three lanes, 10’ foot shoulders and in most areas, longer ramps.  This will provide emergency vehicle access and improve incident responses.  Two lanes of frontage road will be completed in September and five bypass lanes  will be open for use by Thanksgiving 2013. There will be 3 main lanes with an alternative bypass lane, providing continuous frontage road use. The creative re-sequencing in schedule allows for drastic improvement to local mobility for the adjacent homeowners and businesses.

“The LBJ Express team knows that road construction is not easy and can be fraught with setbacks,” said Antonio Alvarez-Cedron, president and CEO of the LBJ Infrastructure Group LLC. “Our engineers and construction teams appreciate the cooperation and coordination among leaders of the surrounding cities, businesses and chambers of commerce, neighborhood associations, utility companies and TXDOT, as we work around the clock to complete the LBJ Express as quickly as possible.”

“We appreciate the ongoing patience of the community as we balance the need to completely re-engineer 17 miles of roadway and cross bridges while still enabling about 250,000 drivers per day to travel safely along this vital corridor,” said Heather DeLapp, director of public relations for Trinity Infrastructure LLC, the project’s lead contractor.

About the LBJ Express. The 13-mile LBJ Express project in Dallas encompasses the complete reconstruction of I-635 from Luna Road to Greenville Avenue, as well as the addition of new lanes on I-35E between Loop 12 and Valwood Parkway. When complete in late 2015, the LBJ Express will dramatically increase the capacity of the current roadway and reduce traffic congestion with the introduction of up to six new TEXpress toll lanes, in addition to four free lanes and continuous access roads in each direction. The LBJ Express is a project of the LBJ Infrastructure Group LLC, comprised of Cintra US, Meridiam Infrastructure and the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System. The Contractor for the project is Trinity Infrastructure, a collaboration between Ferrovial Agroman and Texas-based Webber. Learn more at www.LBJExpress.com.

FUTURE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURES

Upcoming Work:

• Northbound daily closure of multiple lanes at Northwest Highway.
• Southbound nightly Royal Lane entrance ramp closure on May 23rd, 24th and 28th.
• Southbound  closure Walnut Hill entrance and exit ramps the night of May 22nd.
• Southbound Merrell Road closure the night of May 28th.
• Various nightly full closures on the off-ramp to Forest from northboundI-35E during the next 7 weeks.
• Full closure of Harry Hines on May 28th.
• Full closure on Forest Lane from Denton to Grissom May 28th-31st.
• Lane closures on I-635 and I-35E main lanes and direct connector ramps at the interchange:
  • Full closure of eastbound I-635 at I-35E (night work, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on June 22nd).
  • Full closure of the direct connector ramps on eastbound I-635 to northbound I-35 on June 1st, Saturday night into Sunday morning.
    
  • Full closure of the on the westbound I-635 main lanes and southbound I-35 main lanes on June 1st, Saturday night into Sunday morning.
  • Full closure of the northbound I-35 main lanes the night of June 14th.
  • Full closure the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635 the night of June 14th.
  • Nightly full closure of westbound I-635 June 7th – 9th.
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635 June 20th – 21st.
  • Nightly full closure of southbound I-35E June 24th – 26th.
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635, as well as various lanes on I-635 June 24th – 26th.
  • Nightly full closure of westbound I-635 and southbound I-35E June 29th – July 2nd.
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635 June 29th – July 2nd.
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on southbound I-35 to eastbound I-635 June 29th – July 2nd.
  • Various lane closures on I-35E and I-635 from July 2nd to 8th.
• Eastbound I-635 traffic switch to the new eastbound main lanes – work June 3rd – 7th, and the switch is the night of June 8th.
• Traffic switch of the direct connector ramps on westbound I-635 to northbound I-35 to the permanent roadway June 10th – 15th.

UPCOMING WORK: Segment 2 – Josey to Dallas North Tollway

FUTURE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURES

Week of May 20th – 26th:

• Nightly various lanes closed along eastbound and westbound I-635 from Welch to Josey.
• Closure of Webb Chapel the night of May 20th.
• Nightly various lanes closed on northbound and southbound Midway – Ongoing.
• Open new westbound Frontage Road/Valley View on May 20th.
• Close southbound Midway on May 21st.

Upcoming Work:

• Closure of Webb Chapel the night of May 28th.
• Closure of Webb Chapel the night of June 4th.
• Reduced capacity of Webb Chapel on June 1st.
• Nightly closure of westbound I-635 May 31st (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.), June 1st (7 p.m. – noon) and June 2nd (8 p.m. – 6 a.m.)
• Nightly closure of northbound and southbound Marsh and Midway. Includes a westbound Frontage Road closure from Welch to the Midway exit ramp. These activities are scheduled for May 31st (9 a.m. – 10 a.m.), June 1st (7 p.m. – noon) and June 2nd (8 p.m. – 6 a.m.). Tentative.
• Closure of Valley View on June 8th.
• Closure of Midway on June 14th.
• Closure of Valley View in late June.
• Closure of the eastbound Frontage Road from Midway to Welch. Daytime work, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and weekends. Construction duration is 4 to 6 weeks. Start date May 27th.
• Relocation of the eastbound Midway off-ramp in mid-June.
• Relocation of the westbound Midway off-ramp in mid-June.
• Relocation of the westbound Midway on-ramp in late May.

UPCOMING WORK: Segment 3 – Dallas North Tollway to US-75

FUTURE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURES

Week of May 20th – 26th:

• Closure of the northbound Preston bridge over I-635 the night of May 20th.
• Closure of the northbound and southbound Preston bridge over I-635 the night of May 21st.
• Various lane closures along northbound and southbound Dallas North Tollway on May 22nd.
• Eastbound off-ramp to Preston to be switched to the new temporary ramp on May 20th.
• Traffic switch along eastbound Frontage Road between Inwood and Noel on May 21st.
• Traffic switch along westbound Frontage Road from west of Preston to east of Montfort on May 18th and May 25th.
• Traffic switch along westbound Frontage road between Inwood and Welch on May 20th.
• Construction at Welch Bridge on May 23rd. The following closures are scheduled for this operation:
  • Nightly closure of both U-turns at Welch Road.
  • Right lanes closure along northbound and southbound Welch Road.
  • Two left lane closures along the eastbound main lanes under Welch bridge.
• Construction at Montfort and Preston bridges. The following closures are scheduled for these operations:
  • Nightly closure of westbound and eastbound U-turns.
  • Right lane closures along northbound and southbound Montfort and Preston bridges.
  • Two left lane closures along the westbound main lanes below Montfort and Preston bridges.

UPCOMING WORK:

• Traffic switch along eastbound Frontage Road between Preston and Hughes.
• Northbound Park Central and bypass lanes at Park Central to be opened in mid-August.
• Eastbound main lanes from Park Central to US-75 to be opened the end of May.
• Construction at Montfort and Welch.
• Eastbound on-ramp from Inwood to be switched to the new temporary ramp.
• Closure of the southbound lanes of Noel Road at westbound Frontage Road. Traffic in both directions will be maintained on the north side.
• Construction on Preston Bridge. Various lane closures on eastbound and westbound I-635.
• Westbound on-ramp from Preston to be switched.
• Construction on the Dallas North Tollway bridges. Various lane closures on northbound and southbound Dallas North Tollway.

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FUTURE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURES

Upcoming:

• Northbound closure of Lombardy Lane the night of May 9th.
• Northbound daily closure of multiple lanes on Northwest Highway.
• Southbound nightly Walnut Hill Lane entrance ramp closure on May 13th and 15th.
• Southbound nightly Walnut Hill exit ramp closure on May 14th and 15th.
• Southbound Royal Lane entrance ramp closure the night of May 18th.
• Various nightly full closures on the off-ramp to Forest from northbound I-35E during the next 7 weeks.
• Full closure of Harry Hines on May 27th.
• Full closure on Forest Lane from Denton to Grissom May 28th – 31st.
• Full closure of Josey Lane on June 3rd.
• Lane closures on I-635 and I-35E main lanes and direct connector ramps at the interchange:
  
  • Full closure of eastbound I-635 at I-35E (night work, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on June 22nd).
  • Full closure of the direct connector ramps on eastbound I-635 to northbound I-35 on May 25th (Saturday night into Sunday morning).
  • Full closure of the I-635 westbound main lanes and I-35 southbound main lanes on May 25th (Saturday night into Sunday morning).
  • Full closure of the northbound I-35 main lanes the night of June 1st.
  • Full closure of the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635 the night of June 1st.
  • Nightly full closure of westbound I-635 June 7th – 9th.
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635 June 20th – 21st.
  • Nightly full closure of southbound I-35E June 24th – 26th.
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635, as well as various lanes on westbound I-635 June 24th – 26th.
  • Nightly full closure of westbound I-635 June 29th – July 2nd.
  • Nightly full closure of southbound I-35E June 29th – July 2nd.
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on northbound I-35 to westbound I-635 June 29th – July 2nd. 
  • Nightly full closure of the direct connector ramps on southbound I-35 to eastbound I-635 June 29th – July 2nd.
  • Various lane closures on I-35E and I-635 from July 2nd – 8th.
• Eastbound I-635 traffic switch to the new eastbound main lanes  June 3rd – 7th.
• Traffic switch along the westbound Frontage Road of the westbound I-635 on-ramp to the permanent on-ramp on June 7th.

UPCOMING WORK: Segment 2 – Josey to Dallas North Tollway

FUTURE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURES

Week of May 13th – May 19th:

• Nightly various lane closures along eastbound and westbound I-635 from Welch to Josey.
• Closure of Webb Chapel the night of May 20th.
• Nightly various lane closures on northbound and southbound Midway. Ongoing.
• Westbound Frontage Road rolling closure from Webb Chapel to Midway on-ramp on May 13th.
• Rosser bridge construction on May 13th (tentative).
• Closure of northbound Midway on May 14th.
• Nightly closure of westbound I-635 on May 17th (9 – 10 a.m.), 18th (7 p.m. – noon) and 19th (8 p.m. – 6 a.m.)
• Nightly closure of northbound and southbound Marsh and Midway, which includes a westbound Frontage Road closure from Welch to the Midway exit ramp. These activities are scheduled for May 17th (9 – 10 a.m.), 18th (7 p.m. – noon) and 19th (8 p.m. – 6 a.m.).
  

Upcoming:

• Closure of Webb Chapel on the night of May 28th.
• Reduced capacity of Webb Chapel on May 20th.
• Closure of southbound Midway on May 21st.
• Closure of Valley View on June 8th.
• Closure of Valley View in mid-June.
• Closure of the eastbound Frontage Road from Midway to Welch. Daytime, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and weekends. Duration is 4 to 6 weeks.
• Relocation of the eastbound Midway off-ramp in mid-June.
• Relocation of the westbound Midway off-ramp in mid-June.
• Relocation of the westbound Midway on-ramp in late May.

UPCOMING WORK: Segment 3 – Dallas North Tollway to US-75

FUTURE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOSURES

Week of May 13th-May 19th:

• Southbound Park Central to be opened for vehicular traffic in mid-May.
• Various lane closures along northbound and southbound Dallas North Tollway on May 16th and 17th.
• Nightly closure of the two left lanes of eastbound I-635 below Welch Road on May 13th.
• Nightly closure of the two left lanes of westbound I-635 underneath Montfort Drive on May 14th.
• Nightly closure of the southbound Dallas North Tollway ramp to westbound I-635 on May 17th (Tentative).
• Various lane closures along northbound and southbound Montfort Drive at the westbound Frontage Road May 13th – 18th.
• Construction on Welch bridge on May 16th. The following closures are scheduled for this operation:
  • Nightly closure of both U-turns at Welch Road.
  • Right lane closures along northbound and southbound Welch Road.
  • Two left lane closures along the eastbound main lanes under Welch bridge.

Upcoming:

• Traffic switch along eastbound Frontage Road between Preston and Hughes.
• Northbound Park Central to be opened for vehicular traffic in mid-August.
• Eastbound main lanes from Park Central to US-75 to be opened the end of May.
• Construction at Montfort Drive and Welch Road.
• Eastbound on-ramp from Inwood Road to be switched to the new temporary ramp.
• Traffic switch at eastbound Frontage Road from Dallas North Tollway to Noel.
• Closure of the southbound lanes of Noel Road at westbound Frontage Road. Traffic in both directions will be maintained on the North side.
• Construction on Preston Bridge. Various lane closures on eastbound and westbound I-635.
• Westbound on-ramp from Preston to be switched.
• Montfort Drive and Preston bridge construction on May 22nd:
  • Nightly closure of westbound and eastbound U-turns.
  • Right lane closures along northbound and southbound Montfort Drive and Preston bridge.
  • Two left lane closures along eastbound main lanes below Montfort Drive and Preston bridge.