The Fort Worth City Council on Tuesday at its regular meeting authorized the execution of an interlocal agreement with Tarrant County in an amount not to exceed $23 million for the construction of Hemphill Street Connector Project from Lancaster Avenue to West Vickery Boulevard.
This is a four-lane divided tunnel arterial under Interstate 30 and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks, including a new bridge for the tracks. The city had halted the project in 2015 when officials learned that costs for the project had escalated. In 2013, the project was estimated at about $26.6 million. According to a report presented to the council in November 2015, the cost jumped to about $45 million – an increase of about $18.4 million.
Over the next month city staff will work with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and funding partners to finalize the project funding plan and commitments. Bids are expected to be received by May and the council is expected to give final authorization of funding in June.