'Weather' or Not, Work Continues
on the Eastern Extension

Despite a rainy summer and fall, the President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension is still anticipated to open to traffic in late 2011.

In October 2008, the NTTA kicked off construction of four of the project’s five sections (28-31). The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is building the fifth section (32), which includes the lake bridge.

So far this year, rainfall for the Dallas area is about 8 inches above average, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts November and December will add the typical 2 to 2 1/2 inches each month. The almanac also predicts that this winter will be colder than usual, with the most significant snow and ice occurring between mid-December and mid-February.

Wind and ice are less of a factor on the construction site, though, except in extreme cases such as when winds exceed 20 mph, which could affect bridge beam hanging. Ice would not necessarily stop production unless it’s extremely thick.

Precipitation in 2009 remained average until September and October when four inches more than usual fell in the area each month. For the extension project, that soaking resulted in about 10 rain days per month and created some interesting hurdles for the contractors.

Excessive rainfall can hinder earth-moving, hauling, drilling and material delivery activities throughout the corridor construction zone.

Section 28, from the Firewheel Town Center in Garland to west of Miles Road in Sachse, for instance, is largely below grade and includes marshy, low-lying areas. In Section 29, from west of Miles Road in Sachse to north of the future Merritt Road, the contractor postponed hauling dirt because of the potential for mud to be tracked across a public road. Also in 29 and 31, south of Main Street in Rowlett to the north shore of Lake Ray Hubbard, excess water had to be pumped from project areas.

Work does go on despite the weather, such as sign and barricade repair and replacement; erosion control; and storm water pollution prevention control, as conditions allow.

Crews are finding ways to adapt and have also expanded the schedule to include some weekend work to make up lost time.

The 9.9-mile Eastern Extension will lengthen the Bush Turnpike southeast from State Highway (SH) 78, over Lake Ray Hubbard, to Interstate Highway (IH) 30.