Construction on Hwy. 121, FM 2499 will ease congestion

New highway projects worth $180 million would relieve bottlenecks by adding bridges to Grapevine Mills mall entrances from FM 2499 and lanes to Hwy. 121 north to Sam Rayburn Tollway, Grapevine and state officials said.

The bridges will enter the mall at Grapevine Mills Boulevard and Stars and Stripes Way, said Jerry Hodge, transportation director for the City of Grapevine.

The main lanes of FM 2499 will be depressed so that the bridges can go over them and motorists can continue toward Denton Creek without having to stop for signals, improving traffic flow.

The city would like to see the $80 million project added to the DFW Connector so that it could start immediately, he said. The addition would have to be approved by the Texas Department of Transportation and NorthGate Constructors.

The work on Hwy. 121, when completed, will result in five lanes in each direction plus the frontage roads. Hodge said construction on the $100 million project could start in early 2014.

The project is 95 percent designed, and has been planned for some time. This would be the second phase. Both projects have been cleared environmentally, he said.

The state Transportation Commission approved funding for the projects Jan. 31.

Elsewhere, Grapevine motorists got major relief in February on the DFW Connector with the opening of the eastbound Hwy. 114 flyover to southbound Hwy. 121.

The 3,700-foot flyover, the longest in the project, soars partially over the Classic Chevrolet dealership on William D. Tate Avenue, quickly sweeping drivers onto Hwy. 121.