New roadway improves DFW airport traffic flow

   The new DFW Connector, which is tied to the large Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport complex, officially opened for service Wednesday.
   The roadwork was part of a $1 billion project designed to help drivers navigate better and avoid congestion as they travel to and around the Texas airport. The DFW Connector received $260 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the largest highway investment from the Recovery Act. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the project created more than 500 jobs and was finished nine months ahead of schedule.
   According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the connector makes driving safer by reconstructing five highway interchanges, substantially reducing weaving and merging. “The project doubles the number of lanes available to motorists who travel on the highways and provides direct connect ramps where none previously existed. Without the ramps, motorists could have expected delays of up to 10 minutes at traffic signals in each direction,” DOT said.
   The project also includes managed toll lanes designed to keep traffic moving at 50 mph at all times and other roadway improvements to reduce congestion for the estimated 180,000 motorists traveling daily on State Highways 114 and 121 and other roads north of the airport, DOT noted.