The Interstate 635 East construction project is expected to come to a close soon.
All main lanes for the interstate are open as of this spring. The Texas Department of Transportation estimates the $1.74 billion project will be completed by late summer when the managed lanes open.
When did construction on I-635 start?
Construction began in spring 2020 and is currently 95% finished. Spanning 11 miles across Dallas County, work on the roadway begins just east of U.S. Highway 75 in north Dallas to Interstate 30 in Mesquite.
When completed, the road will feature 10 general purpose lanes and two tolled managed lanes. The main lanes were expanded while the toll lanes were completely rebuilt. Construction also included work on frontage roads as well as intersection and interchange improvements.
What is the construction on I-635 fixing?
Intended to improve mobility, operations and safety in Dallas County, transportation authorities believed the interstate project was necessary to serve the growing population in the region. When the interstate originally opened in 1969, it was designed to accommodate about 180,000 motorists. According to TxDOT, the average daily traffic on I-635 reached 230,000 in 2023.
The increase in traffic and incompatible road conditions resulted in the roadway’s top 30 ranking on Texas’ most congested roadways list over the last 15 years. The construction project is part of TxDOT’s Texas Clear Lanes initiative “designed to relieve congestion, provide local connectivity and improve safety.”