Thank you for tuning into the first construction overview presentation for the TxDOT 635 East project.

My name is Dianne Tordillo with Pegasus Link Constructors, the company chosen to design and build the project.

With major construction beginning this year, we wanted to put this together to provide a sense of what to expect when construction activities ramp up in the months ahead.

Before we begin, I'd like to point you to our navigation list, which is also located at the bottom of our video that's posted on our website. 

Feel free to use this list of times to skip to the topic you're interested in.

Let's begin the presentation with some basics on the 635 East Project.

What is it exactly?

It's a roadway construction project by the Texas Department of Transportation to improve mobility operations and safety along interstate 635 in Dallas County. 

Construction will begin this year lasting through the end of 2024.

It covers 11 miles of roadway from just east of US highway 75 in North Dallas all the way to Interstate 30 in Mesqute.

This project is also part of a statewide initiative by the Texas Transportation Commission known as Texas Clear Lanes, to address the most congested roadways in the state. 

When Interstate 635 opened to traffic in the 60s, it was only made to handle about one 180,000 cars daily.

These days, traffic counts reach about 230,000 cars daily which says a lot about the need for roadway improvements in this area.

We have outdated roadway designs and there's a constant need for netter connectivity between the mainlanes and local roads.

Construction will work to improve safety along the corridor.

It will accommodate the projected growth within the region, relieve congestion that drivers are experiencing, and it will also improve access and traffic flow to get to the surrounding neighborhoods and communities along the corridor.

Here's a diagram of our project team.

Starting off with TxDOT, who owns and manages the project.

And Pegasus Link Constructors, the project's design-build contractor.

PLC is a joint venture between two large companies in the construction business - Fluor and Balfour Beatty - known to have delivered a few other projects in Texas.

You may have caught us building the Horseshoe Project in downtown Dallas that was completed in 2017, and the Southern Gateway project just to the south of that in Oak Cliff, in effect through 2021. 

Beyond our core team, there will also be a lot of third party coordination.

With a project of this size, presence and visibility, it will thrive in the collaboration and partnerships needed to build this project.

This will include working with Dallas County, as well as the cities that the project fall in, which are Dallas, Garland and Mesquite. 

Utility companies, especially as we relocate many utility lines along the corridor.

Rail lines that are along the project that intersect with 635, such as DART and the Kansas City Southern Rail Company.

And last but not least, the many businesses, residents, schools, churches and community organizations that live and work along 635.

We will make it a priority to work as effectively as possible with these third parties throughout construction.

The project will cost 1.7 billion dollars to build, using the design-build method, which reduces construction time as the design and build processes required for the project are happening simultaneously, providing high quality results.

When the project was awarded to PLC in 2019, the design phase began immediately after we executed our contract.

Now that we're well into year 2020, major construction work is in the horizon and this will be ongoing until we reach substantial completion in year 2024.

Let's look a bit closer at the 635 East project limits.

The project's 11 miles starts to the east of US Highway 75 all the way to I-30;

first crossing Dallas, through Garland, then Mesquite.

Our construction will also actually include about two miles along Interstate 30, which will include a complete reconstruction of these direct connectors at the I-30 and I-635 interchange.

Now that you've seen how far the project will span. it's time to see what exactly will be built out there.

Here's a cross-section of the existing lanes of Interstate 635, what we have out there right now.

As you can see, currently we have four general purpose lanes in each direction and one HOV Express managed toll lane in each direction, which are separated by delineators from the general purpose lanes.

In this diagram, there are no frontage roads. There are a lot of sections right now along 635 that don't have these connections.

With all the needed right of way acquired to build the new roadway, 635 will almost double in width when construction is complete.

In each direction, it'll have two to three lanes of frontage roads;

five lanes of general purpose lanes;

one lane of manage toll TEXpress Lanes in each direction, but with added shoulders.

In addition, the delineators that currently exists along the TEXpress lanes will be switched out by concrete barriers, that will act as a separation between the manage toll lanes and the free general purpose lanes.

Since the beginning of the year, our team has been gradually prepping our work zones to gear up for construction.

You may have seen some of our crews out there already driving by, and lane closures here and there.

Our first major closure along the project will be to close the TEXpress lanes along 635 East, which will last the entire project duration.

This big closure will take effect in the spring targeting for Monday April 27, 2020.

Closing these lanes will allow for room to do the reconstruction work along the mainlanes and frontage roads.

Other work to expect this year include utility relocations, beginning roadway construction of the frontage roads and traffic shifts along the mainlanes.

Make sure you're signed up for our E-blasts or text alerts to make sure you're getting the latest notifications about any of our upcoming work.

Sign up forms are located on our website, under the "Receive" tab.

As you can see on this project schedule, we've reached to this point since TxDOT awarded the project to PLC back in May 2019.

Now that we're starting major construction work and utility relocations, definitely be expecting more communication from our team in the months to come. 

More detailed schedules for different construction activities along the corridor will be communicated to our subscribers closer to date and in advance.

All closures will also be posted on our website as part of our outreach.

We'd also like to begin sign-ups for businesses along the project who are interested in being a part of our business task force committee.

The goal for the business task force is to have one-on-one meetings with the project team to discuss upcoming work and schedules in detail.

These recurring meetings will provide opportunities to speak with members of our construction team directly.

Look out for a link below this presentation, which will direct you to the official signup form to join our business task force.

We hope that we've answered some questions you may have about 635 East during this recorded presentation.

But in the event that we've left out some details, please refer to our frequently asked questions section on our website, under the overview tab.

We also have other communications tools listed here.

Our storefront is a location at our project office where visitors can drop by and view exhibits, pick up brochures and other project resources.

Our project email at info@635east.com. 

Our project website at 635east.com.

Call our project hotline anytime at 1-833-HWY-635E.

Follow us on our social media accounts and finally sign up to receive text alerts by sending the message 635 East to 31996. 

Thanks again for tuning in to the TxDOT 635 East Project.