Cashless Toll Collection Construction Begins June 21 on the Dallas North Tollway

On June 21, the NTTA will begin construction on the Dallas North Tollway (DNT) to convert existing toll collection facilities to cashless toll collection, also known as all-electronic toll collection (all-ETC). The construction will lead up to the conversion of the DNT to all-ETC, which is set for the evening of Dec. 10, 2010, when all NTTA toll facilities will end the collection of cash tolls on the road.  Instead, motorists either will use their TollTags or will receive ZipCash invoices to pay for tolls.

The first week of construction will include installation of advance signing, setting of temporary concrete barriers, and lane re-striping in the construction areas between Interstate Highway 635 and the Sam Rayburn Tollway (SRT).  The concrete barriers will protect both the construction crews working on the toll road as well as passing motorists. All three main lanes of traffic will shift in the construction area, and the shoulder width will be reduced to allow for the construction zone.  Motorists are asked to pay attention to construction zone signage and slow down in the construction areas.

“The safety of our customers and crews during construction is our highest priority,” said NTTA Assistant Executive Director of Operations Clayton Howe. “We will do our best to make the transition as smooth as possible, including working during off-peak hours to minimize delays to the traveling public.” 

During the next six months, crews will work between I-635 and the SRT to install new main lane toll gantries and new ramp gantries.  A toll gantry is an overhead structure that supports TollTag readers, cameras and lights necessary for all-electronic toll collection.  The traditional toll plazas at Keller Springs Road and Parker Road are scheduled to be replaced with new main lane toll gantries similar to the ones on the SRT and on the DNT at Wycliff Avenue to allow for three consecutive lanes.  Initial construction will focus on the new main lane gantries to be located at Parker Road, just south of the existing structure, and Trinity Mills Road.  The construction of the new main lane toll gantries will include installing concrete columns on either side of the main lanes in each direction followed by the setting of the overhead steel structures that hold the electronic tolling equipment.  Four sets of ramps between I-635 and the President George Bush Turnpike will also be under construction over the next six months as crews install new ramp gantries to replace the existing ramp plazas.

After the December 10 conversion, crews will continue working for an additional six to seven months to remove the old plaza structures and replace the remaining ramp structures along the DNT.  All construction activity associated with the conversion to all-ETC is expected to be complete by July 2011.

All-ETC provides enhanced mobility, safety and air quality.  Once the conversion is complete, cash will no longer be accepted on the NTTA System, and tolls must be paid with a TollTag account or through the NTTA’s ZipCash program. Customers who use ZipCash—the NTTA's cashless toll collection method—pay 50 percent more than customers who have TollTags.  TollTags also can be used on any toll road in Texas.  Customers whose accounts are backed with a credit or debit card can also use their TollTags for parking and pass-through privileges at D/FW International Airport and for all parking at Dallas Love Field Airport.  Customers can have up to three TollTags, a “family pack,” on one account at no additional charge.  TollTag accounts also can be managed 24/7 online where customers can print out receipts for expense reports, update account information and much more.

The NTTA will communicate conversion activity and construction lane closures to the public on its website, through the news media, and via its Facebook page.  Additionally, customers can e-mail all-etc@ntta.org to receive a weekly list of lane closures.

For more information about all-ETC or other NTTA projects, please visit www.ntta.org.