Project History

TxDOT has contracted with Carter & Burgess, Inc. (C&B) to study needed improvements to Interstate Highway 35 in Cooke County. The purpose of these improvements is to bring the roadway to current standards and to provide for future traffic increases. C&B produced several potential alternatives and held a meeting with stakeholders (elected officials, businesses, churches, schools, police departments) on December 13, 2006. Input gathered from this meeting allowed C&B to further refine and evaluate the potential alternatives.

• Alternative I - Six-lane (three lanes in each direction) barrier separated roadway with two-lane one-way frontage roads; follows existing IH 35 alignment where possible
• Alternative II - Same as Alternative I with the addition of a grassy median for possibility of future inside fourth lane in each direction
• Alternative III - Six-lane (three lanes in each direction with a grassy median and room for future expansion) roadway without frontage roads on a new alignment
• One different alignment alternative around Valley View

What's Next

The recommended preferred alternative will be presented at a second public meeting. Input from both public meetings will be reviewed and considered in the Environmental Assessment (EA). An EA is a report that documents the existing social, economic and environmental conditions; assesses effects of the proposed alternative; and identifies potential mitigation. The EA will also evaluate the effects of the "No Build Alternative." Once the Federal Highway Administration approves the EA document for publication, a public hearing will be conducted with an expected result of a "Finding of No Significant Impact." This process is expected to be complete by January 2008.