Transportation Updates[/caption]1. US 75, President George Bush Turnpike improvements
US 75, President George Bush Turnpike improvements[/caption]A construction project to reconfigure the ramps and merging lanes at US 75 and the President George Bush Turnpike interchange stretches from the interchange to 15th Street. The project will include extending the railroad bridge north of PGBT, building new auxiliary lanes and rebuilding the Plano Parkway bridge spanning US 75. No major lane closures will occur in the next month other than the current HOV lane closures. Once complete, drivers on northbound US 75 will have to use the Plano Parkway exit to get to 15th Street. Southbound US 75 drivers exiting to 15th Street will use a ramp relocated farther north.
Timeline: July 2016-early 2019
Cost: $37 million
Funding source: Texas Department of Transportation
2. PGBT widening project
Drivers will see construction to the east of the PGBT to US 75 near the edge of Plano and Richardson and westbound between Renner Road and US 75. This is part of the 52-mile widening project, which will add one additional lane in each direction of the turnpike. Upon completion, the additional lanes will run from North Belt Line Road and West Irving Boulevard to SH 78 in Garland. The stretch between Interstate 30 and I-20 in Grand Prairie also will be widened to three lanes in each direction. All widening will take place within the center median.
Timeline: May 2015-21
Cost: $175 million (entire project)
Funding source: North Texas Tollway Authority
3. Los Rios Boulevard, 14th Street improvements
Los Rios Boulevard, 14th Street improvements[/caption]Construction crews are finishing utility relocations at several intersections to prepare for various improvement projects. Dedicated right- and left-hand turn lanes will be added to the intersections of (A) Los Rios Boulevard and 14th Street; (B) Los Rios Boulevard and Plano Parkway; (C) Plano Parkway and Shiloh Road; and (D) Hedgcoxe and Coit roads. These projects may take place at the same time or may be staggered depending on the contractor’s schedule.
Timeline: June 2016– Aug. 2017
Cost: $2.3 million
Funding source: city of Plano
4. Parker Road, Plano Parkway repairs
The city of Plano started a project in July to repair concrete along (A) Parker Road from Coit to Custer roads. Once these repairs are complete in January, crews will then begin a similar repair project along (B) Plano Parkway from Jupiter Road to Los Rios Boulevard. Two lanes in both directions will be closed from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily with one lane being closed 24 hours a day.
Timeline: July-2016-April 2017
Cost: $2.2 million
Funding source: city of Plano
5. Brown Branch sewer line project
A sewer line installation at Parker Road from Jupiter Road to east of Spring Creek Parkway is anticipated to be complete by the end of August, weather permitting. The sewer line runs in the middle of the median but drivers can expect intermittent left- lane closures when crews are out working. Workers are also installing a second 820-foot sanitary sewer line and a 4,450-foot sewer pipeline, but traffic impact will be minimal.
Timeline: Feb. 2016–Jan. 2017
Cost: $4.2 million
Funding source: city of Plano
6. Independence Parkway repairs
The project to repair the roadway along Independence Parkway is on schedule. Lane closures will continue to take place from (A) Cross Bend to Parker roads and from (B) 15th Street to Plano Parkway.
Timeline: Jan. 2016–Jan. 2017
Cost: $4.2 million
Funding source: city of Plano
