Park Bridge Homeowners Association - Plano, Texas

Motorist traveling southbound on U.S. 75 will see major delays, but the project is the first of its magnitude in the state.  Beginning Oct. 1, TxDOT will close the southbound high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane along Central Expressway.  The new $20 million interchange will convert Parker Road from a standard grade-separated bridge to a single-point urban interchange (SPUI).The estimated project completion is fall 2010.

She said the $20 million project’s construction will not affect rush hour traffic. She said crews will work from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and the night closures will occur from 9 p.m.-5 p.m.

According to TxDOT, SPUI is an interchange where all left turn movements occur on the bridge, which promotes optimal traffic operation and safety.

“We tried this concept in Ft. Worth, but it was a lot smaller,” said Kelli Petras, TxDOT’s public information officer. “This is the first one in Texas of this size.”

Lloyd Neal, Plano’s traffic engineer manager said the city is looking forward to having this innovative project completed.

“We will look forward to seeing it,” Neal said. “It will decrease traffic congestion and improve air quality because there will be reduced stop and go traffic.”

Currently, traffic uses existing ramps on the frontage roads to connect to Parker Rd. This requires drivers to have to stop when trying to turn onto or from Parker Rd. and can cause traffic delays.

“We are asking folks to find an alternative route,” said Lloyd Neal, Plano’s traffic engineer manager. “It will be very congested.”

U.S. 75, from Bethany Drive in Allen to Park Boulevard in Plano, although this highly anticipated lane was recently opened.

Petras said although the HOV lane will be shut down for approximately one year, she said the Parker project has been on the books for some time.

“As congestion continues to grow we want to help move cars,” Petras said.

Lane closures for this project will include:

• Parker Rd. - reduced from three lanes to two lanes in each direction for the duration of the project.
• U.S. 75 - intermittent closures of U.S. 75 mainlanes at Parker Rd.
• HOV lane - closing the southbound HOV from Bethany Dr. in Allen, to Park Blvd. in Plano, planned to begin later this year.

from the Plano Star Courier