Project Profile: 35Express (Phase 1)

photo credit: AGL Constructors

Location	Dallas, Texas
Project Sponsor	Texas Department of Transportation
Program Areas
Mode	Highway / Express Lanes
Description	The 35Express project includes nearly 30 miles of improvements to heavily congested I-35E between US 380 in Denton and I-635 in the northwest corner of Dallas. This corridor serves hundreds of thousands of commuters, handles substantial daily truck traffic, and is a primary link to major universities in the city of Denton, including the fourth-largest university in the state, the University of North Texas. The project is also adding frontage roads across Lake Lewis to improve north-south commuting options. In its ultimate configuration, the $4.8 billion project will rebuild the full corridor while adding tolled express lanes to provide a reliable alternative to the general purpose lanes and frontage roads. The project is being constructed in phases. Phase 1's elements included: Construction of two reversible managed toll lanes (express lanes) with associated exit/entrance ramps between Valley View Lane just north of I-635 and Turbeville Road/Hundley Drive 16.5 miles to the north Addition of express lane connectors between I-35E and the existing LBJ Express along I-635 Reconfiguration and rehabilitation of general purpose lanes from IH635 to Corinth Parkway, 20 miles to the north Reconfiguration and/or widening of general purpose lanes and the construction of an additional general purpose lane in each direction from Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH 121) to US 380 (21 miles) Construction of direct connectors to Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH 121) Construction of a collector-distributor system between President George Bush Turnpike and Sam Rayburn Tollway (SH 121) Construction, reconstruction, widening, or rehabilitation of various frontage roads, interchanges, and bridges Construction of a new southbound bridge over Lewisville Lake with four general purpose lanes, two reversible express lanes, two frontage road lanes, and a pedestrian walkway; reconfiguration of the existing north and southbound bridges to carry all northbound traffic on four general purpose lanes, two frontage road lanes, and a pedestrian walkway Associated mitigation projects
Cost	$1.4 billion (Phase 1)
Funding Sources	Federal funds - $460 million TIFIA Loan - $285 million Regional toll revenue (SH 121) - $534 million Other state funding - $160 million Local funding - $14 million
Project Delivery / Contract Method	Design-build
Private Partner	Design-build joint - AGL Constructors Archer Western Contractors, LLC Granite Construction, Inc. The Lane Construction Corporation Parsons HDR, Inc.
Project Advisors / Consultants	To TxDOT Financial Advisors - KPMG Legal Advisors - McCall, Parkhurst & Horton LLP and Nossaman LLP To USDOT TIFIA JPO TIFIA Financial Advisor - Taylor DeJongh TIFIA Legal Advisor - Nixon Peabody LLP
Lenders	USDOT TIFIA
Duration / Status	Design-build contract awarded December 2012. Design notice to proceed issued May 2013. Construction began October 2013. New southbound Lewisville Lake Bridge opened in September 2016. Phase 1 was completed in 2018.
TIFIA Credit Assistance	Direct loan: $285 million. The TIFIA loan is being repaid through a pledge of the project's gross toll revenues.
Financial Status	The TIFIA credit agreement was signed on November 3, 2016. Loan repayments began in 2022 and final maturity is anticipated in 2052.
Innovations	The 35Express added to the Dallas Fort Worth's regional express lane network (TEXpress) that provides reliable travel throughout many of the region's most congested corridors.
Related Links / Articles	TxDOT I-35E Phase I Project Archive TxDOT I-35E Phase II Project