After hitting a major milestone last weekend, an ambitious project several years in the making is nearing completion above U.S. Highway 75 in Dallas.
During a 20-hour planned closure of the freeway’s main lanes between Royal Lane and Forest Lane beginning Saturday evening, the Northaven Trail Bridge was hoisted into place.
Once completed, the Northaven Trail Bridge is expected to improve mobility for pedestrians and cyclists in Dallas. It will connect the 8.2-mile Northaven commuter and recreation trail on the west side of U.S. 75 to two other key trails on the east side: Cottonwood Creek Trail and White Rock Creek Trail.
Funded at $9.3 million, this significant urban project is the result of a partnership between the City of Dallas, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the North Central Texas Council of Governments. A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the project in May 2021, and work on the site has been ongoing since then.
TxDOT planned the bridge’s installation to lessen the inconvenience to motorists. Construction crews with heavy machinery assembled the bridge structure in a nearby parking lot before hoisting it over northbound and southbound U.S. 75 lanes.
Dallas District 11 Council Member Jaynie Schultz described the event as “a once-in-a-lifetime moment” that showcases “engineering, partnership, and the future all coalescing,” as NBC 5 DFW reported.
Scott Carnes, a board member of the nonprofit Friends of Northaven Trail, emphasized the long-term impact.
“This is a massive asset for the community and all who live in the city,” said Carnes.
Over the next six weeks, workers will integrate the bridge into the existing trail system, adding access ramps on both ends of the arch. The bridge is expected to open for use in October.
For those who can’t wait until October to check out the new bridge, the Friends of Northaven Trail website offers a video visualization of the trail bridge user experience.
The 201-foot, 800,000-pound arch is not just an aesthetic highlight.
Cyclist Randy Heffner expressed his excitement to WFAA, saying, “It’s beautiful!”
It is expected to help connect Dallas’ somewhat fragmented network of bike and pedestrian trails, making it easier and safer for residents to navigate the city.
Friends of Northaven Trail President Jeff Kitner pointed out that prior to this bridge crossing the highway was a hazardous ordeal.
The bridge “will open up the entire city,” he told WFAA.
Dubbed the “Low Five” by regular cyclists, this bridge is part of a larger trail connectivity plan extending beyond Dallas. Once fully operational, it will link trails from Fort Worth to White Rock Lake. TxDOT plans to add more bridges to complete the region’s trail network.
Cyclist Charles Gatlin summed it up, telling WFAA, “The easier it is to get around, the more people you’re going to have taking advantage of the resources.”