The $157.3 million project will also improve access to business and entertainment venues, such as Toyota Stadium in Frisco or American Airlines Center in Dallas, said Michael Rey, media relations manager of the North Texas Tollway Authority, which manages the Dallas North Tollway among other tollroads.
What's happening?
The project adds an additional lane in each direction and will help traffic flow as the population continues to grow in Collin and Denton counties, Rey said.
Crews are also reconstructing the intersection and DNT bridges over Fields Parkway in Frisco as part of the project. This work is still in progress.
The Dallas North Tollway widening is being paid for through NTTA revenue, which, in part, is generated through toll collections.
The project is also increasing developer interest in the area, Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney said.
“Had this project not been underway, we likely would not be seeing Fields West already starting development,” he said. “We wouldn’t be seeing Firefly Park already starting development.”
Fields West is a 55-acre mixed-use development that will feature retail and office space. Firefly Park is another mixed-use development.
Traffic is congested on the tollway in Frisco even without the recent construction. Drivers spend longer on their commutes than they should, according to NTTA documents. Multiple projects, such as work on President George Bush Turnpike, are meant to tackle the congestion but they may not be enough.
This congestion is expected to increase 22% by 2045. More infrastructure will be needed to accommodate drivers in the area, but the widening of the Dallas North Tollway will help alleviate some of the traffic, according to NTTA.
Lanes have been closed as crews continued to work on the project. Lanes will reopen as the work progresses and the fourth lane is expected to open in fall 2025. Some lanes have closed and reopened after work was completed.
Looking forward
With currently planned infrastructure, like the tollway widening project, Dallas-Fort Worth will still experience moderate to severe traffic congestion.
In 2023, Collin County experienced a 43.35% increase in travel time due to congestion and Denton County saw a 44.7% increase.
By 2050, Collin County is expected to see a 92% increase in travel time while Denton County sees a 47% increase. By 2045, 1.8 million people could be living in Collin County, which is a 27% increase from 2025.
Diving deeper
Tom Cawthon, Dallas division president of homebuilder Taylor Morrison, said the widening project is a temporary inconvenience that is critical to Frisco’s growth.
“We have to be able to provide homeowners with access to commuter corridors, shopping, schools and entertainment,” he said. “It’s all about time to commute.”
Shorter commute times, as well as better access to local and regional amenities and job centers, drives housing demand in Frisco and the broader Dallas-Fort Worth area, he said.
Cheney said high-rise office spaces, residential developments and big box retailers are cropping up along the Dallas North Tollway corridor. This is evidenced as traffic counts have increased along the corridor in recent years. He and city leaders are planning accordingly, he said.
“By putting your density along your urban spine, it’s easier to get traffic in and out of it,” Cheney said.
The ease of the commute and the increased capacity on the tollway gives businesses, builders, employers and residents more confidence that they can move into the city and be successful, Cheney said.
The takeaway
Cawthon predicts developments in Frisco will continue to increase in value because the tollway will have more capacity.
“Having that widening of the DNT through Frisco is absolutely going to allow Frisco’s values to continue to increase,” he said. “It will continue to enhance its attractiveness not only to buyers but also to builders.”
The city has set itself up to be the “suburb of choice,” Cawthon said.
“This continued investment into accessibility and into the infrastructure only just makes it that much more valuable,” he said.
People want to live in Frisco, but it’s not at all costs, Cawthon said.
“They need to be able to get in and out,” he said. “It’s critical.”
