This years-old detour will yield to the new Eastern Extension of SH-190 in the coming months, finally assuming the route that has been long anticipated. The Crist Rd bridge in the background was constructed years ago at ground level and the new tollway will be built at a lower grade by excavating below the bridge.

From NTTA President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension Update:
 

President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension Click graphic for large version

The Eastern Extension is a portion of the outer loop around Dallas and its suburbs that connects Interstate Highway (IH) 30 to the existing President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT). It is part of the Loop 9/State Highway 190 corridor first envisioned in the 1960s. Construction on the approximately 9.9-mile corridor began in October 2008. The project is expected to open to traffic in fourth quarter 2011.
 
Milestones

• A $160 million toll equity grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to the NTTA was approved for right of way (ROW) and other costs on August 23, 2007.
• A three-party agreement among the NTTA, TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was executed in November 2007. In addition, a TxDOT/NTTA two-party agreement was executed, allowing eminent domain proceedings for critical ROW acquisition to begin; property acquisitions are ongoing.
• TxDOT approved a revised schematic on March 7, 2008.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 permit was approved April 25, 2008.
• The City of Dallas (Dallas Water Utilities, or DWU) agreement for the Lake Ray Hubbard bridge was approved by the Dallas City Council and NTTA Board of Directors in May 2008.
• A rail-crossing agreement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) was approved by the DART Board and NTTA Board, also in May 2008.
• FHWA approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement Reevaluation on July 1, 2008.
• A groundbreaking for the first construction contract, Section 30, from north of the future Merritt Road to south of Main Street in Rowlett, took place August 21, 2008. Construction began on October 13, 2008.
• All five sections of the extension were officially under construction by mid-March 2009.

Corridor Updates

• The Texas Historical Commission has given the go-ahead for construction to begin in the Rowlett Creek area of Section 28, where an archeological dig was completed last spring. The Section 28 contractor continued excavating, hauling material off site, installing the storm drain system, and drilling shafts for the retaining walls and the Rowlett Creek bridges. The contractor also installed the storm drain across Old Miles Road.
• NTTA received approval of the USACE Section 404 Individual Permit Amendment that was required because of design improvements. This approval will allow work to proceed in Section 28 on the maintenance access road within the Rowlett Creek floodplain as well as construction of a new channel for a portion of Rowlett Creek.
• In Section 29, crews began drilling shafts for columns to support the Miles Road bridge and retaining walls. Crews completed restoration of the mass grading area east of Merritt Road with topsoil and temporary seeding. Earthwork continued southeast of Merritt Road. In addition, workers began installing moisture-treated subgrade on the service road between Miles and Merritt roads.
• In Section 30, the contractor continued work on the future Merritt/Liberty Grove connector, a new culvert and the placement of various retaining walls and water lines throughout the job.
• The Section 31 contractor worked to install underground utilities and began earthwork from the southern project limit proceeding north. Crews also began the moisture-treated subgrade work near the southern project limit and installation of the retaining walls at the south end of the project near Miller Road to Lake Ray Hubbard.
• Section 32 is being constructed by TxDOT.

Next Steps

• Continue construction on all sections

Corridor Details

• Project limits: Extends the PGBT from SH 78 to IH 30
• Project length: Approximately 9.9 miles
• Anticipated project cost: Approximately $1 billion
• Anticipated NTTA cost: Approximately $623 million
• Anticipated opening date (all sections): Fourth quarter 2011