The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced plans to install two high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on US 75 extending from I-635 north to Exchange Parkway in Allen.  There will be one southbound and one northbound lane. 

Construction will begin in approximately three weeks beginning at I-635 extending northward.  The project is expected to take 11 months for completion, with approximately half of the work slated for nighttime hours.  

Various lanes will be closed temporarily while the work is ongoing, with closures reopening when work is not being done to alleviate impact on rush hour traffic.

According to TxDOT the highway lanes will not be widened.  Rather, the HOV lanes will be gained by using the current inside shoulder and stealing some width from the remaining travel lanes.  The HOV lanes will have a soft barrier to the adjacent traffic lane to allow fire and police access to render emergency services.  The soft divider will be a small curb with vertical “soft posts” spaced every nine feet.  These posts can be driven over or around to access the lane for emergencies.

When complete, motorists will have access to the HOV at three locations:  Exchange Parkway, north of I-190 and at I-635.   A construction office for W. W. Webber, LLC, the contractor, will be located at Coit and Churchill at the south end of the project.