University of North Texas

April 21, 2016

Dear UNT community,

We want to remind you of upcoming work on Interstate 35E, including demolition of the North Texas Boulevard bridge, ramp and frontage road closures that started this week, and detours. We also want you to know about the various ways to stay informed about the project.

Bridge demolition, and ramp and frontage road closures

Starting at 9 p.m. on April 29, the 35Express project will begin demolition of the North Texas Boulevard bridge to make way for a new bridge. During that weekend, traffic will be routed off I-35E and onto the service road. I-35E is scheduled to reopen at 6 a.m. May 2.

The following ramp and frontage road closures will be implemented as traffic is shifted onto new pavement on the northbound and southbound frontage roads near the bridge:

• The southbound I-35E entrance ramp from North Texas Boulevard will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. until 6 a.m. through April 22 . (see map)
• The southbound I-35E exit ramp to North Texas Boulevard will be closed until 9 p.m. April 22 (Friday). During this closure traffic will take the Oak Street exit and continue south on the frontage road to North Texas Boulevard. (see map)
• Various lanes of the southbound frontage road between North Texas Boulevard and the exit ramp to Kendolph Drive will be closed nightly through April 22.
• Various lanes of the northbound frontage road from Avenue C to North Texas Boulevard will be closed nightly between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. April 26 through April 28.
• There will be nightly lane closures and flagging operations on North Texas Boulevard near the northbound and southbound frontage roads until 6 a.m. April 22 and nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. April 25 through April 27.
• The northbound I-35E entrance ramp from McCormick Street will permanently close at 9 p.m. April 26. Drivers will continue on the northbound frontage road and use the I-35E entrance ramp from North Texas Boulevard. (see map)

Once the old North Texas Boulevard bridge is gone, traffic on the frontage roads will no longer stop at the North Texas Boulevard intersection. And traffic coming from North Texas Boulevard will have new designated turn lanes that will yield to the frontage roads.

New North Texas Boulevard bridge

The new North Texas Boulevard will be:

• A full bridge – two lanes in each direction, two dedicated turning lanes, two U-turn lanes and a pedestrian walkway – that is expected to be complete in the fall.
• Three lanes of the bridge – one in each direction and a turning lane –are expected to be open to traffic in late summer.

Alternate routes

Because of the work on I-35E, the university recommends that individuals coming to campus give themselves ample time for travel, sign up for traffic text alerts, project email updates and consider alternative routes.

During the bridge closure, traffic wishing to access North Texas Boulevard will use the following detours:

• Southbound I-35E traffic will continue to the Fort Worth Drive exit, make a U-turn and continue on the northbound frontage road to North Texas Boulevard.
• Northbound I-35E traffic will take the Fort Worth Drive exit and continue on the northbound frontage road to North Texas Boulevard.
• UNT community members leaving campus are encouraged to avoid North Texas Boulevard and use alternate routes such as Eagle Drive to Fort Worth Drive to reach south I-35E, or West Oak Street to reach south I-35W or north I-35E.

Additionally, UNT recommends that visitors coming to UNT Commencement May 13-14 use Fort Worth Drive to access campus. Learn about directions and get the commencement parking map.

How to learn more

The UNT community can stay updated on 35Express and nearby construction work affecting the campus by visiting unt.edu/i-35. The 35Express project also has a website with links to social media and email updates at 35Express.org. For construction updates in real time, follow the 35Express Twitter account at @35Express.