President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension (SH 161)

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State Highway (SH) 161, the President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension (PGBT WE), provides a new, approximately 11.5-mile link between SH 183, I-30, and I-20 as part of a western loop around Dallas through the cities of Irving and Grand Prairie south of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. SH 161 serves as a major link within the Dallas-Fort Worth regional transportation network, reducing congestion along adjacent corridors, including the parallel State Highway 360. In April 2008, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) agreed to a concession with NTTA in perpetuity (with revenue and capital improvement cost sharing after 52 years) to own, operate, and complete the project's construction. The negotiated value of the agreement was $1.068 billion, including a $458 million upfront payment (plus interest) to TxDOT for prior costs incurred on Phase 4 of the project and the obligation for NTTA to build Phase 4 of the project and the toll gantries for Phases 2 and 3 (see below). The new toll road is being constructed in four phases: Phase 1: An interchange with SH 183 and service roads from North Carrier Parkway to I-20, constructed by TxDOT (open in August 2009) Phase 2: Two toll lanes in each direction from SH 183 to Egyptian Way, constructed by TxDOT (open in August 2009) Phase 3: Services roads and a third toll lane in each direction from Conflans Road to North Carrier Parkway, constructed by TxDOT (open in April 2010) Phase 4: Two toll lanes in each direction from North Carrier Parkway to I-20 with interchanges at I-30 and I-20 (open in October 2012; I-30 interchange (fully open in December 2012) Together with the original PGBT and its Eastern Extension, the roadway provides a 52-mile partial circumferential route around Dallas from I-20 in Grand Prairie to I-30 in Garland. The widening of the roadway to three lanes in each direction between I-30 and I-20 is in the planning phase.

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