NTE Mobility Partners announced Thursday, April 5, the early opening of a major section of the North Tarrant Express 35W project extending from Northside Drive to the IH 820/I-35W interchange, a news release said.
The opening is part of the $1.6 billion North Tarrant Express 35W project, which includes a 10-miles section of roadway currently ranked 23rd on the state’s most congested roadways list, the release said.
NTE Mobility Partners is the developer of the project, which began in May 2014 and includes complete reconstruction of frontage roads, general highway lanes and the addition of two managed TEXpress Lanes in each direction. The final section of the North Tarrant Express 35W project from Northside Drive south to I-30 is on schedule to open later this year.
The new highway corridor consists of new ramps and additional connections to and from the general highway lanes and the TEXpress Lanes. Drivers will be able to choose to travel on the rebuilt general highway, bypass and frontage roads at no charge, or utilize the TEXpress Lanes for what aims to be a faster, more direct commute through the corridor.
“This public-private partnership (P3) is providing a safer more reliable highway corridor in North Texas. We are proud to deliver on our commitment to relieving congestion on one of the busiest corridors in the state,” Alberto Gonzalez, NTE Mobility Partners CEO, said in the release. “This project would not be successful without our partnership with TxDOT and regional transportation planners.”
The release explained that the project’s design-build method was instrumental in the early opening because the contractor was able to work in all areas of the corridor simultaneously, which then allowed for an accelerated schedule, and for the new highway to be built years ahead of the traditional construction method.
“We have a consistent track record of delivering roadways in North Texas early – largely due to our team of dedicated employees and local subcontractors unmatched experience on large, complex mega-projects,” Miguel Alonso, CEO for North Tarrant Infrastructure, the project contractor, said in the release. “Community outreach, traffic management and innovation, such as the dirt-moving conveyor belt built over I-35W, have contributed to the delivery of this phase of the project ahead of schedule.”
More information about the TEXpress Lanes can be found at www.nteteNTETEXxpress.com or www.TEXpressLanes.com.