It seems that every few weeks, the North Texas Tollway Authority announces a complete weekend closure of the Dallas North Tollway in north Plano.

Drivers are left to navigate clogged detours or steer clear altogether of the area, which is home to some of Plano’s most popular destinations in recent years, including The Shops at Legacy and the brand-new Legacy West development.

Some residents may also wonder why this stretch of construction requires the closure of all three lanes in each direction, when other parts of the project to expand the Dallas North Tollway carry on while leaving at least some lanes open.

The north Plano portion of the project contains two key bridges. Crews have demolished the Tennyson Parkway bridge and are rebuilding it to accommodate the tollway lane additions. They are also working to add a new U-turn lane at Legacy Drive.

City officials plan for the original U-turn to become a bike and pedestrian bridge connecting Legacy West and The Shops at Legacy.