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Traffic Switch to Occur in September on U.S. 75 at Sam Rayburn Tollway Traffic on northbound U.S. Highway (U.S.) 75 will shift onto the southbound side of the highway in the northern Allen, Fairview and southern McKinney area in September to accommodate construction of the Sam Rayburn Tollway/U.S. 75 interchange.
Ten days prior to the September traffic switch, the NTTA will set up electronic message signs to alert drivers.
When the traffic switch occurs, drivers in this area of U.S. 75 still will have two lanes of travel in both directions -- their lanes simply will be about a foot narrower, which still meets the safety criteria. A concrete traffic barrier will separate southbound cars from northbound cars.
“The NTTA has an aggressive construction schedule to build this interchange, and we truly appreciate the public’s patience during the traffic switch,” said Elizabeth Mow, NTTA director of project delivery.
The following key facts will help motorists better navigate the traffic switch:
- As northbound U.S. 75 drivers approach Ridgeview Drive, their lanes will start shifting to the southbound side.
- When northbound U.S. 75 drivers pass Ridgeview Drive, their lanes will be completely shifted to the southbound side of U.S. 75.
- The traffic switch will be about one mile in length.
- Just north of the Sam Rayburn Tollway (formerly State Highway 121 and still labeled as such on highway signs), the northbound lanes will return to the northbound side of U.S. 75.
- The exit off U.S. 75 to Highway 5 will be moved about one-quarter of a mile south of its current location.
The NTTA is coordinating with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the City of McKinney about the traffic switch, which will last an estimated three to five months.
The anticipated September 2009 traffic switch is the first of three lane movements on U.S. 75 that drivers will experience before the new four-level interchange is complete and open to traffic in January 2011.
The second traffic switch will move southbound U.S. 75 traffic onto the northbound side of the highway. The third and final switch will move all U.S. 75 traffic to the southbound side once again before all lanes return to their normal traffic flow.
“We realize these traffic switches will take some getting used to,” Mow said. “We encourage drivers to slow down, observe the directional signs and be extra attentive in the work zone. We also hope that drivers will appreciate with how quickly the NTTA is constructing the interchange.”
While northbound U.S. 75 traffic is shifted to the southbound side of the highway, drivers will see new Sam Rayburn Tollway bridges being built over northbound U.S. 75. They’ll also notice direct-connect ramps being constructed between the two roadways. Crews also will work on the interchange’s loop ramps.
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