Woodland Mitigation Enhances Sustainability on Eastern Extension

The NTTA is taking steps to provide a sustainable as well as aesthetic landscape along a portion of the President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension project. The NTTA purchased land along the Eastern Extension in order to construct a toll booth facility that is no longer needed as the NTTA switches to an all-electronic toll collection system.  Instead, the NTTA will mitigate the 14.8 acres of woodland in a designated area of Section 29 of the Eastern Extension by replacing and replanting trees and shrubs. The intent is to replace woodlands, including wildlife habitat, impacted by construction of the toll road.

A portion of the project includes 4.5 acres of woodland mitigation through a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-approved mitigation bank--a site where wetlands, streams or ponds are created, enhanced, restored or preserved. In addition, the project includes tree protection for existing woodland, the planting of approximately 450 trees and 900 small trees or shrubs as well as a maintenance program to help protect the environment. The trees and shrubs are all native species to North Texas. Trees will be comprised of native oaks and pecans as well as shrubs including plum and persimmon.

The NTTA selects native landscaping, when possible, to aid in the sustainability of the trees and shrubs and to reduce maintenance costs. By planting native trees and shrubs, the sustainability initiative also helps conserve water, prevent run-off, and reduces the resources needed to grow and care for the landscape.

The NTTA finalized design plans in January 2010 for the planting of trees and shrubs near Muddy Creek and Hickox Road to further mitigate for woodland impacts along the Eastern Extension in accordance with a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.   

The Eastern Extension is a 10-mile highway extension of the existing President George Bush Turnpike from State Highway 78 in Garland east and south to Interstate Highway 30. The toll road will pass through and enhance mobility in the cities of Garland, Sachse and Rowlett. Construction began in Fall 2008, and the road  is scheduled to open in late 2011.

For more information regarding the NTTA’s efforts to increase and maintain sustainable landscapes, please visit www.ntta.org.