News 8
Congestion relief is 'top priority' in FW, but there's a hitch 
09:28 PM CDT on Friday, October 30, 2009
FORT WORTH — Tens of thousands of motorists travel on Interstate 35W north of downtown of Fort Worth every day. It is one of the most congested stretches of interstate highway in the country.
But some believe the state is forgetting Fort Worth when it comes to cutting drive times.
The Texas Department of Transportation is considering a billion dollar plan to widen I-35 to six lanes between Salado and Hillsboro.
But it could be years before Tarrant County drivers see any relief on I-35W.
Wycliffe Nyakundi says he doesn't have time to take the expressway. "It's too much traffic. I'll be late for work."
So Nyakundi winds his way to his job on the service roads.
It's a frustrating drive because it takes just one little fender-bender to put a stopper in the drain on I-35W out of north of downtown Fort Worth.
So why did TxDOT announce plans this week to widen this highway to six lanes — but only far south of Dallas/Fort Worth? The pavement expansion is planned for about 30 miles of roadway from Hillsboro down to Salado.
"Our top priority in Fort Worth is getting congestion off 35," said City Council member Jungus Jordan. He was at Thursday's TxDOT meeting when the department recommended spending a billion dollars on improvements elsewhere.
"We were sorely disappointed," Jordan conceded.
Money for the expansion will be borrowed under Proposition 12, which voters approved two years ago.
"Give us some of it — $250 million so we can fix this intersection," Jordan said. "That's what we're asking for. That's what we're begging for."
TxDOT says the Fort Worth section of I-35W doesn't qualify for Prop 12 money because it intersects with private toll lanes planned for Loop 820, and also because it's not anywhere near ready for construction to begin.
"I'd love to say we're going to turn dirt tomorrow, but the truth is we're probably five years away — if we can get the funding," Jordan said.
Councilman Jordan says that if you're fed up, contact your state lawmaker, because he says the city is already doing about everything it can do.
North Texas is getting $250 million in stimulus money to relieve congestion between Highway 114 and Highway 121 near Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport. That makes the DFW Connector the most expensive stimulus-funded transportation project in the country.
The work should be complete by 2014.
E-mail jdouglas@wfaa.com
