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Bridge Beams in Place at SRT/DNT Interchange  First of 8 Direct-Connector Ramps to Open Soon
All of the concrete and steel bridge beams needed to link the Sam Rayburn Tollway and the Dallas North Tollway are set in place as the $79 million construction project heads into the home stretch.
Concrete beams stretching 84,400 linear feet or 15.9 miles soar across the skyline supporting nearly 30,000 linear feet or 5.7 miles of steel beams. Weighing in at 69 million pounds, the concrete beams are about as hefty as 3,047 school busses. They hold up the additional 18 million pounds of steel bridge beams, equivalent to 10,000 cars.
All eight bridges joining the two major toll roads are expected to open to traffic in January 2012. As of late October, NTTA officials were hoping to begin opening some of the direct-connector ramps in the near future. As with all construction projects, weather and other delays could affect those openings. When the massive interchange project opens, the traffic flow through the congested area will improve immensely.
In the meantime, crews will continue to close DNT and SRT main lanes and frontage roads to complete critical tasks, including the placement of concrete for bridges and safety rails. Lane and ramp closures will continue each weeknight, during off-peak daytime hours and during the weekends.
For the latest construction updates, visit www.NTTA.org where you’ll find general project information and you can subscribe to a weekly e-newsletter. Lane closure information also is available online or by calling the NTTA Information Line at (214) 224-3030.
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