Today is a great day for Texas and a great day for TxDOT.

And it's a great day for North Texas. 

As many of you know, we scheduled an in-person groundbreaking ceremony for April 2020, but we are sidelined by the Coronavirus pandemic.  

The virus may have delayed our groundbreaking ceremony, but nothing is going to stop us today. 

We have waited long enough for this project.  

Today we celebrate the start of the 1.7 billion  dollars 635 East project. 

This is a project that spans 11 miles in Dallas County, includes sections that are currently ranked on the state's most congested roadways. 

It is a gridlock like we see on I-635 East that inspired the Texas Clear Lanes initiative. 

Our goal is to address heavily congested areas to get Texans moving.  

With the collaboration of local leadership, TxDOT is tackling these critical areas and reducing congestion, in particularly here in the Dallas area. 

In fact, nearly 3 billion in Texas Clear Lane's funding is currently under construction in this region. 

These projects include the I-35 East Stemmons project in downtown Dallas. 

The Southern Gateway project in south Dallas, the Irving interchange, which will start in the next few months. 

And of course the I-635 East project kicking off today. 

We also have  several other Clear Lanes projects in the Dallas District being planned, an additional 3.7 billion  dollars. 

These include two projects on I-30, one through Rockwall and the other, the Canyon project on the south side of downtown.  

Two additional Clear Lanes projects are also being planned for I-35 East, one just north of I-635 and the other through Denton County. 

So if you are  doing the math, we have nearly 6.7 million dollars in improvements coming soon to this region to ease congestion and keep us all moving. 

This is a great time for me to be your Commissioner. 

I'm proud to represent the important interests of North Texas on the Texas Transportation Commission. 

We have so much work to do and the 635 East project leads the way in delivering on TxDOT's commitment to keep traffic and commerce moving during this challenging time. 

TxDOT's mission is  connecting you with Texas. 

Ladies and gentleman, this is a prime example of the department's focus and commitment to that mission. Thank you.