Bush Turnpike extension plan OK'd

Federal decision clears way for turnpike linking I-30 and Highway 183

09:09 AM CST on Thursday, January 27, 2005       By TONY HARTZEL / The Dallas Morning News

The Bush Turnpike's future path is taking shape – and will soon claim an even larger role in the lives of many North Texas commuters.

Federal officials this week approved the toll road's 10-mile eastern extension, which will run through Sachse, Rowlett and Garland and cost $398 million to $442 million. When complete in 2008, it will connect to today's 26-mile turnpike to provide a continuous route from Interstate 30 in Garland to State Highway 183 in Irving.

"It's great news for us, and great news for the whole region," said Rowlett Mayor Shane Johnson, whose city started planning several years ago for the road and the growth it is expected to bring. "This is the first day of the rest of our community's life."

The region's third highway loop – originally known as Loop 9 and almost 50 years in the making – has come a long way since the turnpike's first segment opened in late 1998. It now stretches into three counties – Dallas, Denton and Collin – and will skirt Rockwall County when the eastern extension runs through Rowlett.

"This creates an awful lot of freedom for people to do business and live their lives in lots of different ways," said Allan Rutter, deputy executive director of the North Texas Tollway Authority, which is building the extension. "The fact that the Bush Turnpike is there means that people can live in Garland, Rowlett and Sachse, maybe more affordably, and work in Plano, Carrollton or Lewisville."

The number of vehicles using the turnpike's eastern sections has grown dramatically in the last year, Mr. Rutter added.

With that traffic comes potential for economic development. In 2003, Rowlett successfully fought for a longer but more lucrative route that also runs through almost 1,000 acres of land that the city had set aside for commercial development.

"It will change things for this community. We have worked hard to be prepared for this," Mr. Johnson said.

When the eastern extension is complete, a 25-minute drive from Rowlett to D/FW Airport will cost $3 with a TollTag, Mr. Johnson added. A trip along the entire turnpike length will cost $3.60 with a TollTag.

Connections to the turnpike also are planned on the west side of the region.

The Texas Department of Transportation, which is a partner in the Rowlett-area project, has plans to build interchanges and frontage roads for the future State Highway 161 in Grand Prairie and Irving. Highway 161 changes into the Bush Turnpike near D/FW Airport in Irving.

The interchange at Highways 183 and 161 already is under construction, and the state will start construction on Highway 161 frontage roads near Interstate 20 this summer. All frontage road projects from I-30 to Highway 183 could be under construction by the fall.

RSAI is located approximately 1.5 miles south of the Turnpike on  US Hwy. 78