The North Tarrant Express 35W (Segment 3C) is a large scale, P3 (Public-Private Partnership) interstate improvement project that spans 18 miles in Fort Worth and includes a section that is currently ranked number 6 on the state’s most congested roadway list. Plans to reduce the congestion by doubling capacity include interim projects to reconstruct the existing lanes and add two TEXpress Lanes in each direction. The project is being built in segments. The NTE Mobility Partners Segments 3, LLC (NTEMP3) is constructing Segment 3A, from north of I-30 to north of I-820 including the I-35W/820 interchange. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) constructed Segment 3B, from north of I-820 to US 81/287. TxDOT has received a proposal from NTEMP3 to rebuild Segment 3C. I-35W currently carries 119,000 vehicles daily near downtown Fort Worth and 142,000 north of I-820. Approximately 11 percent of the vehicles are trucks.
BOWMAN’s Segment of Work:
Bowman is designing a portion of Segment 3C which is comprised of a $455 million design/construction to rebuild 3.5 miles from just south of North Tarrant Parkway to just north of Keller Hicks Road in Tarrant County. The new corridor will include reconstructed main highway lanes, expanded frontage roads, and additionally, two TEXpress Managed Lanes in each direction. The construction will be performed by Ferrovial Agroman US and Webber.
The roadway consists of 2 managed lanes, 3 general-purpose lanes, multi-lane frontage road in each direction, and connectivity ramps to access each of these alignments from the other. The design of the roadway, drainage, bridge/retaining walls, intelligent transportation network, high-mast lighting, & the traffic management plan while working within the right-of-way was a massive challenge. Several utilities that occupy the corridor were not programmed to be relocated due to the cost and sensitivity (i.e. high-pressure gas) therefore challenges arise to design to avoid this impact within the designated right-of-way.