History of Kell Freeway

Kell Freeway US 82/US 277 through Wichita Falls was envisioned in the 1960s. Kell was first identified as a future need in the 1964 Wichita Falls Urban Transportation Plan.

Plan work started in the late 60s. In 1967, the City of Wichita Falls held a bond election to pay for half of the $6 million needed to buy right of way. The other half of the property acquisition was funded by TxDOT.

During the 70s, the frontage roads were built, and construction on Phase 1 started in December 1985.

Phase 1
During Phase 1, the Kell Freeway was constructed from Kemp to Harrison Street for $10.2 million by the Zack Burkett Company of Graham. It was completed in December of 1988.

Phase 2
Phase 2 began in November 1987 and wrapped up in July 1990. This section of the freeway cost $10.5 million. It stretched from Harrison Street to Holliday Street. The contractor was Amarillo Road & Bridge Company.

Phase 3
Built by J. L. Steel Inc. of Roanoke, TX, Phase 3 cost $17.5 million. Main lanes were constructed to continue the highway from Kemp Street to just west of Fairway. This phase included overpasses at Lebanon Road, McNeil Avenue and Fairway Boulevard. The freeway was opened to traffic in March 2003.

Phase 4
Phase 4 will start west of Fairway Boulevard and wrap up at Southwest Parkway (FM369) on the extreme western side of Wichita Falls. It is 3.5 miles long. This project will include overpasses at Barnett Road, Allendale Road and Southwest Parkway. This section is under construction and will be complete in January 2010.

Phase 5
This final phase will create an elevated interchange for Kell Freeway and US 287/281. The community named it the "Falls Flyover" during a contest held in the summer of 2005. Three of the ramps have been open since November 2007. A design flaw will require further work on one ramp and construction is expected to start in early 2009.