Design of SH 161’s Final Phase Receives
Green Light

The design of Phase 4 of State Highway (SH) 161 is now underway after the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) received concurrence on the Authority’s design-build contract from state and federal transportation agencies earlier this month.  This is the first time the NTTA has used the design-build delivery method for a tollway project, and at just more than $416 million, the contract is also NTTA’s largest to date.

The NTTA chose the design-build delivery method to save time on the project by allowing construction to begin before the design process, which should take about a year, is complete. The NTTA anticipates receiving 30-percent design submittals around the first of the year with construction beginning next spring.

The design phase notice to proceed is the latest development on the SH 161 project, which consists of the following phases:

• Phase 1 – Main lane interchange at SH 183 and service roads from North Carrier Parkway to IH 20; substantially complete and open to traffic; constructed by TxDOT.
• Phase 2 – Northbound main lanes and frontage roads from SH 183 to North Carrier Parkway. Opened to traffic Aug. 2, 2009. Constructed by TxDOT with toll gantries constructed by the NTTA. Toll collection provided by NTTA.
• Phase 3 – Remaining portions of service roads and southbound main lanes from SH 183 to North Carrier Parkway; currently under construction and will open by the fourth quarter of 2010. Constructed by TxDOT with toll gantries constructed by the NTTA. Toll collection, maintenance and safety services provided by NTTA.
• Phase 4 – Main lanes (6.5 miles) from North Carrier Parkway to IH 20. Scheduled to open the fourth quarter of 2012. Includes the main lanes from North Carrier Parkway to IH 20 and the interchanges between SH 161 and both interstates.

The NTTA, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), City of Grand Prairie and Union Pacific Railroad are working out the details of a four-party agreement for the construction of a railway underpass across the roadway. Once the agreement is finalized, NTTA can issue a second notice to proceed for construction of the underpass, which already has been designed by TxDOT.

The NTTA is working with TxDOT to finalize the details of a Toll Equity Loan Agreement to provide the NTTA with the credit enhancement to fund the project. In addition, the NTTA is awaiting word on its applications for a federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) loan, as well as bond financing. Once the NTTA secures financing for the project, a third notice to proceed will be issued for the remainder of the design work as well for the construction of the roadway.  Should the NTTA opt to waive its primacy on the project, TxDOT would take the project back and reimburse the NTTA for its costs to date.

For more information about SH 161 or other NTTA projects, visit www.ntta.org.