An extension of the Dallas North Tollway has finally been opened.
The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) announced the opening of the latest extension of the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) over Highway 380 on March 13.
As explained in the news release, NTTA claims that this extension will aid in meeting future traffic demands because of “explosive growth and economic development in Collin and Denton counties.”
This newly completed portion of the DNT now extends into the city of Prosper via a bridge.
“This bridge will help ease congestion in Frisco, Prosper and Celina while also spurring development,” said officials in the press release.
The bridge was the first component of the DNT’s Phase 4 project. Next, each main lane of the DNT will be extended to the Grayson County line.
Official records from Collin County indicate that the bridge project cost taxpayers an estimated $103.5 million.
This latest extension is also part of the NTTA’s capital plan. This plan features extension and improvement projects to multiple instances of travel infrastructure across North Texas.
These projects include endeavors for President George Bush Turnpike, Sam Rayburn Tollway, and Dallas North Tollway to mitigate traffic accumulation.
A portion of U.S. Highway 75 was converted into new “technology lanes” for the same purpose of reducing congestion on the road, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Officials believe that this latest extension will give an economic boost to surrounding communities.
“This is an important milestone in the northern expansion of the Dallas North Tollway,” said Elizabeth Mow, NTTA assistant executive director of infrastructure, in the press release. “The DNT is a critical route, creating economic development opportunities for Frisco, Prosper and Celina and will stimulate growth for decades to come.”
On the other hand, some groups have highlighted issues and potential dangers associated with Highway 380. They have advocated for local officials to address them as well.
Make380Safe is one such group that has pointed to a number of alleged safety issues regarding the highway. The group initiated a petition in 2020 that claimed problems including an absence of police monitoring and a lack of street lights.
The extension of the DNT is expected to be completed by 2024.
