New DFW Connector Bridge To Ease Confusing Commute
GRAPEVINE (CBS 11 NEWS) - A mid-afternoon opening is expected Saturday for a bridge that will more directly connect Southlake and Grapevine across Highway 114. It's a major milestone for the billion dollar DFW Connector project that will affect traffic for up to 20 miles into Denton, Dallas and Tarrant counties.
Traffic on FM 1709 has been redirected on two small bridges since the first weekend in January, while a new nine-lane bridge could be built across the highway. Six lanes will open initially, while crews demolish the two older bridges. That work is expected to affect traffic on 114 each weekend through the end of the month.
The new bridge will end an often confusing commute between the two cities. Local drivers will benefit first, but it's the first of four bridge openings on the project that are expected this fall.
"Now it's going to be very logical," said Southlake Mayor John Terrell. "It's going to be safer, and it's going to be a much easier access for our citizens."
Drivers like Margaret Sunderland said incredibly busy traffic is just something that goes with living in the area, but she expected the bridge to open things up.
"The good news is it's going to come to a close next year cause they're going to be completed but this is definitely going to alleviate some pain."
The entire Connector project is still expected to be completed in mid-summer 2013, up to a year ahead of schedule.
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