The North Tarrant Express improvement plan will take three years to complete. (Jamie Street/Unsplash).
Construction is set to start on the North Tarrant Express beginning in June or July. Here’s what you need to know.
A $142 million construction project is set to break ground on the North Tarrant Express following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A spokesperson for TxDOT, Shawna Russell Jones, told the Fort Worth Report, “Construction is anticipated to begin before the end of the year and is expected to last approximately three years overall,” during which time extensive work will be done along Interstate 35 West. The Sylvania Avenue bridge, which is 63 years old, will be completely replaced and reconstructed on frontage roads nearby within an 18-month span.
On March 12, the Regional Transportation Council approved a $45 million contribution (via toll revenue) to the project. While it’s sure to cause some delays and more than a few headaches over the next few years, the changes are sorely needed. Transportation Council officials wrote that, “The existing bridge structure has been hit numerous times due to the low vertical clearance (13.5 feet), and reconstruction will raise the vertical clearance, increasing safety and reducing congestion delays at the underpass.” Considering that well over 100,000 people frequent Interstate 35 West on a daily basis, it’s reassuring to know that reduced congestion and increased safety are at the forefront of this massive overhaul.
As the construction is underway, entrance and exit ramps along State Highway 121 will be reconfigured, as will utilities. An eastbound frontage road will be added to the area, as well as another bridge over Trinity River, in addition to the reconstruction of the Sylvania bridge.
Construction likely won’t begin until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Officials have indicated that the highway construction project won’t break ground until the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which runs through July, considering that FC Dallas Stadium and Mansfield Stadium will both be serving as team training facilities. Shawna Russell Jones said, “Utility relocation for the project could potentially begin as early as late summer but would not impact FIFA.”
It’s the latest in a string of ongoing projects that have been making improvements to I35W since 2013. I-30 recently underwent its own repairs, and prior to that, Chisholm Trail Parkway was constructed between 2011 and 2014. Work is currently ongoing at I-635 TEXpress lanes, so residents are no stranger to the patience and adjustments needed to see these projects through to completion.
