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Project Profile: President George Bush Turnpike

President George Bush Turnpike

photo credit: North Texas Tollway Authority

Location

North Dallas, Texas

Project Sponsor / Borrower

North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA - formerly Texas Turnpike Authority)

Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG)

Adjacent counties and cities

Program Areas

Project FinanceTolling and Pricing

Mode

Toll Highway

Description

The President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) is a six-lane, 30.5-mile circumferential toll highway connecting various cities in the northern part of Dallas County and portions of neighboring Denton and Collin Counties. It extends from just north of Belt Line Road in Irving, near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, to SH 78 in Garland, northeast of Dallas. This original segment was completed in 2006. The Eastern Extension is a 9.9-mile segment continuing from SH 78 to I-30, including a one-mile bridge over Lake Ray Hubbard, that opened in December 2011. The PGBT Western Extension (SH 161) continues south from SH 183 in Irving for 11.5 miles to I-20 in Grand Prairie.

The original portion of the PGBT from I-35E to SH 78 is being widened in phases to four lanes in each direction, with construction having started in May 2015 and planned through late 2019. Widening to four lanes between the western extent north of Belt Line Road to I-35E is in the planning phase.

Cost

Original PGBT - $599 million

Eastern Extension - $958 million

Funding Sources

Original PGBT

  • Section 129 Loan - $135 million
  • Toll-backed Revenue Bonds - $308 million
  • Interest earnings - $67 million
  • NTTA Capital Improvement Fund - $50 million
  • Local Right-of-Way Donations - $39 million

Eastern Extension

  • Toll-backed Revenue Bonds - $539 million
  • TxDOT funds - $404 million
  • City of Garland contribution - $9.1 million
  • City of Rowlett contribution - $5.4 million
  • City of Sachse contribution - $0.6 million
Project Delivery / Contract Method

Design-bid-build for both projects

Private Partner

None

Project Advisors / Consultants

Original PGBT

  • Wilbur Smith Associates
  • HNTB
  • Dain Rauscher
  • McCall, Parkhurst & Horton Locke Liddell & Sapp

Eastern Extension

  • HNTB
  • Zachary Construction
Lenders

Bondholders

Duration / Status

The original PGBT opened in phases between 1998 and 2006. The Eastern Extension began construction in October 2008 and opened to motorists on December 21, 2011.

Financial Status

Closed

Innovations

Original PGBT: The first project in the United States to benefit from TE-045 innovative finance provisions including:

  • The first Section 129 Loan in the country
  • Partial Conversion of Advance Construction (PCAC)
  • Flexible Match
Related Links / Articles

NTTA PGBT Website

PGBT Widening Project

Contacts

Mark Bouma, P.E.
Technical Oversight Leader, NTTA
Tel: (972) 628-3116
pgbtee@ntta.org

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