If you use the Interstate 820 East Loop northeast of Downtown Fort Worth, you'll notice a change in the highway's layout Monday. The exit from southbound I-820 to southbound State Highway 121 now occupies the right two lanes instead of the left two lanes. Drivers staying on I-820 now move to the left.
The change in the traffic pattern is part of the $174 million reconstruction of the I-820/ S.H. 121 interchange. The project is widening the interchange to six southbound lanes, three staying on I-820 and three moving to S.H. 121. The northbound side is being widened to five lanes, two on I-820 and three merging from S.H. 121 approaching the State Highway 183 interchange.
Crews are adding direct connection ramps from northbound I-820 to southbound S.H. 121 and from northbound S.H. 121 to southbound I-820. They are also widening I-820 to three lanes in both directions from Trinity Boulevard to Randol Mill Road, rebuilding the Trinity River bridge, and adding a continuous frontage road over the river.
On S.H. 121, they are also adding a third lane in each direction at the interchange.
"I think when you start talking about what we've been able to accomplish, it's kind of remarkable," Tarrant County Commissioner Gary Fickes said.
Fickes represents northeast Tarrant County. During his time in office, the I-820 North Loop and S.H. 183 were rebuilt from Interstate 35W to DFW Airport. I-35W has been rebuilt from Alliance Airport to Downtown Fort Worth.
Fickes said the addition of tolled express lanes has given the area the ability to expand highways as the population has grown. In exchange for the contractor paying for construction and maintenance, the company keeps money brought in through tolls.
Fickes said public-private partnerships have allowed the area to expand highways as the gas tax has generated less revenue because cars have been getting more fuel efficient. He said cities in Tarrant County have worked with the state and federal government to get the money needed to accommodate the area's population growth.
"You think of government as a group of people who don't really get a whole lot done," he said. "I think we can say we've gotten some things done that are significant."
Construction on I-820 and S.H. 121 started in 2018 and is expected to be finished later this year. Details about the project are available here.
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