July still target for flyovers

The DFW Connector's substantial completion date is now mid-September, about two months later than expected but still ahead of schedule.

Mike Pacelli of the city of Grapevine's public works department told business leaders May 29 that rain has delayed the project.

Alyssa Tenorio of NorthGate Constructors, which is building the Connector, said rain has been a problem particularly because so much of the remaining work involves pouring concrete.

She said areas through the middle of the project on Hwys. 114 and 121 will open to full capacity this summer. Work on the north and southbound roads at the north end of the project will be finished in August or September.

Specifically:

• The flyovers for the Hwy. 26 interchange should open in July.
• The Texan Trail interchange is scheduled for completion in August.
• The roads south of FM 2499 should be complete in September.
• The flyovers from northbound Hwy. 121 to westbound Hwy. 114, and from Hwy. 114 to southbound Hwy. 121 are open.
• The FM 1709 interchange was completed in May.

In other area road projects, an extension of the Connector project that includes improvements to FM 2499 is being designed and utility relocation should start later this year.

The Grapevine portion of Hwy. 26 is finished, and landscaping is being installed. On the Colleyville portion, bridge and drainage work are being done, and temporary paving has been installed. The Colleyville work should be finished in summer 2014.

Design on improvements to Hwy. 121 from the Connector to Sam Rayburn Tollway is almost complete and construction is expected to begin after the first of 2014.