Expanding and upgrading a toll road without interrupting traffic flow (II)

The first part of this two-part series discussed expanding and upgrading the LBJ Express. The main challenge of these projects is to maintain the traffic flow, since the infrastructure remains operational during construction.

It is now time to take a look at the North Tarrant Express, another infrastructure serving Dallas-Fort Worth, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the US. The NTE team believes that it is vital to provide information about the project; for that reason, it gives status updates on the roadworks to the local governments and the more than 150,000 drivers who use the highway daily.

The NTE website is updated constantly to provide users with up-to-the-minute information on the state of the highway. Emails and SMS are distributed immediately to notify of any incidents, when they occur, as they develop, and when they are resolved.

NTE also sends twice-weekly alerts on any lane closures planned by the city and offers maps with alternative routes. It also issues monthly updates to highlight project milestones and upcoming planned actions. Social media are another channel through which to share information and content.

Construction and traffic management teams meet monthly to plan and coordinate traffic closures in order to minimize the inconvenience to drivers. Meetings with the public administrations provide municipal officials with sufficient information to enable them to allay citizens’ concerns.

Both North Tarrant Express and LBJ Express will substantially improve mobility in North Texas and drive economic development in the region. Both project teams are committed and doing everything possible to ensure that future clients understand that the inconvenience caused by the roadworks is necessary in order to enhance their well-being and quality of life and increase their travel choices in the future.

Cintra leads the consortium that will double these infrastructures’ capacity. These improvements will also increase road reliability and safety.