President George Bush Turnpike
The President George Bush Turnpike is a 30.5 mile turnpike connecting the northern suburbs of Dallas to near the south entrance of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Texas State Highway 190 is the designation of the free frontage roads that border the turnpike from Interstate 635 to its eastern terminus and Texas State Highway 161 is the designation of the free frontage roads from Interstate 635 to its western terminus.
The turnpike is named for George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st President of the United States and is operated by the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA). All sections are built of 12 inches of reinforced concrete atop a base of 6 to 8 inches of asphalt.
The turnpike passes through three Texas counties (Dallas, Collin and Denton) and six Dallas suburbs (Garland, Richardson, Plano, Carrollton, Farmers Branch and Irving). The turnpike terminates at Texas State Highway 78 in Garland and Texas State Highway 183 in Irving.
The toll plazas of the President George Bush Turnpike have high speed express lanes allowing drivers to pay a toll with an electronic transponder called a TollTag. All lanes on the President George Bush Turnpike are equipped for TollTags.
Rates range from a 40 cent charge for a two-axle vehicle on the shortest stretch to $3.75 for a six-axle vehicle on the longest stretch. TollTag users receive discounts on certain more expensive options.
History
Construction on feeder roads began in late 1988 in north Garland. In 1995 following a revision in federal laws, authorities agreed to shift to a toll financing scheme, providing an infusion of cash and accelerating construction.
- Segment I (North Dallas). Extends from Campbell Road to Midway Road, and includes the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. 75 interchanges. Opened in December 1998.
- Segment II (Garland/Richardson). Extends from Campbell Road to S.H. 78. It was opened in 2000.
- Segment III (Carrollton). Extends from Midway Road in north Dallas to IH-35. It was opened July 2001.
- Segment IV ("GBT Superconnector"). Connects IH-35 to IH-635. Covering 5.2 miles and built at the cost of $339 million, construction began in January 2003 and was completed in October 2005.
- Segment V (Irving). A 3.9-mile segment connecting IH-635 to S.H. 183. It opened in December 2001. Unstable clay soil was a significant problem in this segment, requiring contractors to use concentrated liquid stabilizers and geosynthetic reinforcement.
The total project cost is estimated at $900 million.
Expansion
Template:Future road The Eastern Expansion phase of the President George Bush Turnpike will extend the road 9.9 miles southeast to Interstate 30 through the cities of Sachse and Rowlett, meeting I-30 in extreme southeast Garland. The NTTA received environmental clearance in 2005 and is estimating construction to begin in 2007, with completion in 2010. The project will include a 1-mile bridge spanning Lake Ray Hubbard. Costs estimates of this segment have ranged between $398 to $442 million.
The NTTA is also planning to extend the western terminus to Interstate 30 through the city of Grand Prairie. At this point the turnpike would form a half loop around the city of Dallas. This phase is still in the early stages and the NTTA has not released a completion date; however, construction on PGBT south of Texas State Highway 183 is in process.
Long term plans are for the turnpike to form a new outer loop around Dallas, dubbed Loop 9. The inner loop is called the President Lyndon Baines Johnson Freeway and is comprised of Interstate 635 and Interstate 20.
Reference
- North Texas Tollway Authority - About Our Roads
- North Texas Tollway Authority - GBT Eastern Extension