McKinney, TX News

McKINNEY – Weather permitting, the contractor on the U.S. 75 expansion project at Eldorado Parkway will move traffic into temporary lanes beginning at 12 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012 on the U.S. 75 southbound frontage road to make room for construction. This switch will result in the permanent closure of the northwest “jug handle” exit ramp from the U.S. 75 frontage road to Eldorado Parkway.

As part of this traffic switch, the southwest jug handle exit ramp from the U.S. 75 frontage road to Eldorado Parkway will also be closed from 12 a.m Tuesday, May 15, through 9 a.m. May 20, 2012. This will allow the contractor to build a temporary asphalt connection from the new southbound frontage road alignment to the southwest jug handle.

Detour signs have been posted to direct traffic to Eldorado Parkway and U.S. 75 mainlanes during this phase of construction. Traffic on the southbound U.S. 75 frontage road will be detoured to Craig Drive to Eldorado Parkway and U.S. 75.

The $106 million project will add two lanes in each direction on the mainlanes and one in each direction on the frontage roads giving the highway a total of eight mainlanes and six frontage road lanes between Spur 399 (SH 121) and U.S. 380. This will add needed capacity with anticipation of staying ahead of the explosive growth in population in Collin County. Listed as one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, Collin County grew by more than 61% between 2000 and 2009.

This is one of five projects either underway, nearing completion or just starting up on the Central Expressway corridor through McKinney from SH 121 to Melissa Road. This project is expected to be substantially complete in the summer of 2015.

TxDOT would like to thank area drivers for their patience and cooperation as crews work diligently to complete this vital project as soon, and as safely, as possible.

For additional transportation related information please visit the TxDOT Web site www.txdot.gov or follow us on Twitter@txdotdallaspio.