The second phase of the LBJ Express project is set to open nine months early.
The section, scheduled to open July 12, includes Interstate 635 from Josey Lane to Interstate 35 south of the Loop 12 split. It also includes a stretch of Interstate 35 from I-635 to Valley View Lane.
The second phase includes 3.6 miles of elevated toll lanes, the so-called TEXpress lanes.
“This segment will be critical for drivers who want to bypass the surface lane congestion at I-35E and offers them a more reliable connection from the LBJ Express to Irving, Dallas Love Field, the Medical District, Oak Lawn and more,” Dia Kuykendall, director of corporate affairs for LBJ Infrastructure Group, said in a statement.
Phase 1 opened last December – a 3-mile stretch of I-635 between Preston Road and Greenville Avenue.
But get ready for a toll change for Phase 1. Starting Thursday, Phase 1 will switch to “fluctuating, congestion management tolling.” That means toll rates will change every five minutes depending on the speed of traffic. LBJ Express officials want traffic to stay at least 50 mph.
Since December, more than 522,000 customers have used the stretch between Preston and Greenville.
Starting Thursday, motorists can see how rates fluctuate by using the average pricing chart.
Construction on the $2.7 billion LBJ Express started in spring 2011. It’s supposed to wrap up by December 2015.
