A 9-mile stretch of managed toll lanes along Interstate 30 running from Grand Prairie to Dallas will open to commuters this morning, Texas highway officials announced Friday.
Motorists wanting to drive in the managed toll lanes from President George Bush Turnpike to Westmoreland Road will be charged varying prices, depending on how congested the roads are at the point of entry. Sensors along the roadway will send data to an algorithm to determine the demand and what toll to charge. This is already in effect with the LBJ Freeway, which already has TEXpress lanes.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials said the goal is to keep drivers rolling at least 50 mph. The speed limit is 60 mph. The tollway will be reversible, meaning the directions will change at certain times of the day to keep up with commuting patterns.
Westbound lanes will open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. And traffic will flow eastbound from 9 p.m. to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and all day during the weekends.
Travis Riley, regional manager for DBI Services, said four workers manage traffic flow. It takes about an hour to redirect traffic. About a dozen red signs equipped with flashing lights will indicate to drivers whether they can enter the TEXpress lanes.
The segment is one of three along I-30 south of downtown Dallas planned for installation by 2020, and part of an overall $3.2 billion renovation project aimed at reducing commute times and traffic congestion.
TxDOT expects to have 124 miles of TEXpress lanes completed in North Texas by 2020.
