Almost anywhere along the future route of the PGBT (SH-190) Eastern Extension, seen along the route or in pictures like this, progress continues with crews clearing bush, hauling dirt, and excavating the future lanes.
 
The economic importance of this linkage is especially important to north Garland, Sachse, and Rowlett.
 
Dirt has been flying as two shifts each day work to complete the project on time. I've heard neighborhood reports of the tedium of listening to holes being drilled and columns placed for the bridge that will cross Rowlett Ck near Pleasant Valley Rd, a bridge requiring hundreds of such columns. I know there are times that the quietness that follows progress is well appreciated.
 

From NTTA President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension Update:

President George Bush Turnpike Eastern Extension Click graphic for large version

 
The Eastern Extension is a portion of the outer loop around Dallas and its suburbs that connects Interstate Highway (IH) 30 to the existing President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT). It is part of the Loop 9/State Highway 190 corridor first envisioned in the 1960s. Construction on the
approximately 9.9-mile corridor began in October 2008. The project is expected to open to traffic in fourth quarter 2011.
 
Milestones

• A $160 million toll equity grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to the NTTA was approved for right of way (ROW) and other costs on August 23, 2007.
• A three-party agreement among the NTTA, TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) was executed in November 2007. In addition, a TxDOT/NTTA two-party agreement was executed, allowing eminent domain proceedings for critical ROW acquisition to begin; property acquisitions are ongoing.
• TxDOT approved a revised schematic on March 7, 2008.
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404 permit was approved April 25, 2008.
• The City of Dallas (Dallas Water Utilities, or DWU) agreement for the Lake Ray Hubbard bridge was approved by the Dallas City Council and NTTA Board of Directors in May 2008.
• A rail-crossing agreement with Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) was approved by the DART Board and NTTA Board, also in May 2008.
• FHWA approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement reevaluation on July 1, 2008.
• A groundbreaking for the first construction contract, Section 30, from north of the future Merritt Road to south of Main Street, took place August 21, 2008. Construction began on October 13, 2008.
• A project information meeting was held November 20, 2008, at the Rowlett Community Centre. Hundreds of residents from Rowlett asked questions of the project team.
• All five sections of the extension were under construction in mid-March 2009.

Corridor Updates

• In Section 28, the contractor has completed clearing and grubbing from Firewheel Parkway to just short of the wetlands surrounding Rowlett Creek. The contractor also started roadway excavation and embankment construction near Firewheel Parkway.
• In Section 29, the contractor has completed clearing and grubbing between completed culverts three and four, located where Sections 29 and 30 join, and initiated embankment work at the northbound frontage road near the Liberty Grove crossing.
• In Section 30, the contractor began construction on the bridge over Liberty Grove Road, south of Merritt Road. Utility relocation and construction of various retaining walls are under way.
• In Section 30, a contractor put the finishing touches on the Coyle Farmstead after its relocation to Rowlett’s Pecan Grove Park in January and February 2009.
• The Section 31 contractor held a preconstruction meeting March 3, 2009, and began work in mid-March 2009. A USACE Section 404 permit “kickoff meeting” took place March 16, 2009.

Next Steps

• Continue construction on Sections 28-31

Corridor Details

• Project limits: Extends the PGBT from SH 78 to IH 30
• Project length: Approximately 9.9 miles
• Anticipated project cost: Approximately $1 billion
• Anticipated NTTA cost: Approximately $623 million
• Anticipated opening date (all sections): Fourth quarter 2011