Project Overview
| The North Tarrant Express (NTE) project involves the reconstruction, widening, and addition of tolled managed lanes along approximately 31 miles of roadway north and east of Fort Worth, Texas. The NTE is being delivered in two phases. The $1.64 billion NTE 35W Project is the second phase of the North Tarrant Express. |
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The 18-mile project includes the reconstruction, widening, and addition of tolled managed lanes along I-35W in three segments: the 6.5-mile Segment 3A from I-30 in downtown Fort Worth north to I-820; the 3.6-mile Segment 3B from I-820 north to U.S. 287, and the 8-mile Segment 3C from U.S. 287 north to Eagle Parkway near Fort Worth Alliance Airport. Two tolled managed lanes will be constructed in each direction on Segments 3A and 3B, while one tolled managed lane in each direction will be added to Segment 3C. In addition, one to two general purpose lanes and new frontage roads will be added to Segment 3A by 2030. On Segments 3B and 3C additional general purpose lanes, managed lanes, or frontage roads are also contemplated by 2030.
Known as TEXpress Lanes, the new managed lanes will allow drivers without passengers in their vehicles to pay a toll when they want to avoid travel delays on the (free) general-purpose lanes. Prices on the managed lanes will be set in real time every five minutes to control the number of vehicles entering the lanes and keep traffic moving at speeds of at least 50 miles per hour.
Construction on Segment 3A began in May 2014, construction on 3B started in April 2013, and the development of Segment 3C is under negotiation at the end of 2016. The $2.12 billion Phase I of the NTE opened in October 2014. It included capacity improvements similar to 35W along 13.3 miles of I-820 (Segment 1) and SH 121/SH 183 (Segment 2A) extending east from I-35W toward Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.