The SH 121 Peak Period Tech Lane project included the widening 3.5 miles of existing 4-lane urban major highway in Tarrant County to add paved shoulders to be used as travel lanes during peak periods. LAN developed an alternatives analysis for bridge widening that included minimum shoulder widening, widening for three general purpose lanes, and ultimate widening for managed lanes in each direction. TxDOT selected the ultimate bridge widening to eliminate the need for any future widening to the median.

The project included widening the inside shoulders of NB and SB SH 121, as well as widening overpass bridges at Harwood Road, Cummings Drive, Cheek-Sparger Road and FM 157. To alleviate congestion, an innovative traffic fix was proposed to widen the inside shoulder into a third lane for use during peak hours and other times of day, as needed based on traffic conditions. Widening the inside shoulder provides a cost-effective and quick safety solution. TxDOT is using this project to develop a policy for this type of facility statewide.

Other project features included ITS and active traffic management strategies such as closed-circuit cameras for incident detection, overhead dynamic message signs, additional lighting, emergency pull-off locations, and rapid response tow trucks to remove stalled vehicles.

LAN established existing horizontal and vertical alignments from existing plans; prepared 3D modeling in OpenRoads; coordinated with TxDOT and subs; met with stakeholders including Cities of Bedford and Euless; met with North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) on the operations of the project; performed public involvement and noise wall meetings; and prepared a quality PS&E design package.

Stakeholder communication was critical to project progress. The project involves many public and private stakeholders, including TxDOT’s Fort Worth and Dallas Districts, NCTCOG, FHWA, Bedford and Euless Police Departments, as well as safety and emergency response stakeholder groups.