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Progress Continues on Chisholm Trail Parkway in Fort Worth The NTTA continues to advance Chisholm Trail Parkway (formerly Southwest Parkway/Chisholm Trail) with the acceptance of several contracts and proposals in May.
The NTTA Board of Directors authorized the Authority’s executive director to enter into a contract for construction of Sections 1, 2, 3B and 6 of CTP. Professional service contracts during construction for each of these four sections were also authorized. Although these contracts were awarded, construction is not anticipated to start until financing is secured.
In addition to last month's NTTA Board action, Section 6, the southernmost section of the project, received final environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration. This designation allows the project to move forward in the development process.
The Chisholm Parkway will be part of the "Special Projects System" of the NTTA. On April 15, 2011, the NTTA signed a toll equity loan agreement (TELA) with the Texas Department of Transportation that will advance the financing of the President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension project. The NTTA and TxDOT agreed to supplement the TELA to support future financing of the Chisholm Trail Parkway project. The two projects will constitute the “Special Projects System” of the NTTA.
Originally designated as Southwest Parkway/Chisholm Trail, the entire project was renamed Chisholm Trail Parkway in May after Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 367 into law. Authored by State Rep. Rob Orr of Burleson and State Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, the new name pays homage to the historic cattle drive route that stretched from Abilene, Kan., to Fort Worth. Although the new name is not effective until Sept. 1, 2011, the project partners have begun referring to the corridor as Chisholm Trail Parkway.
In the planning stages for more than 30 years, Chisholm Trail Parkway will be the NTTA's first tollway project in Tarrant and Johnson counties. The corridor will stretch approximately 27 miles and will provide motorists with a continuous route from downtown Fort Worth to Cleburne. The entire Chisholm Trail Parkway project is expected to open to traffic in early 2014.
For the latest Chisholm Trail Parkway construction updates and related lane closures, visit www.NTTA.org, or call 817-207-0184. For general project information, visit www.NTTA.org where you also can sign up to receive bi-weekly project updates.
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