President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension

State Highway (SH) 161, the President George Bush Turnpike Western Extension (PGBT WE), provides a new, approximately 11.5-mile link between SH 183, I-30, and I-20 as part of a western loop around Dallas through the cities of Irving and Grand Prairie south of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. SH 161 serves as a major link within the Dallas-Fort Worth regional transportation network, reducing congestion along adjacent corridors and improving the travel experience in surrounding communities. Overall, the project ensures smoother and more efficient traffic flow of workers and goods by creating a parallel route to the currently congested State Highway 360.

In April 2008, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) agreed to a concession with NTTA in perpetuity (with revenue and capital improvement cost sharing after 52 years) to own, operate, and complete the project's construction. The negotiated value of the agreement was $1.068 billion, including a $458 million upfront payment (plus interest) to TxDOT for prior costs incurred on Phase 4 and the obligation for NTTA to build Phase 4 of the project and the toll gantries for Phases 2 and 3 (see below).

The new toll road is being constructed in four phases:

• Phase 1: An interchange with SH 183 and service roads from North Carrier Parkway to I-20, constructed by TxDOT (open in August 2009)
• Phase 2: Two toll lanes in each direction from SH 183 to Egyptian Way, constructed by TxDOT (open in August 2009)
• Phase 3: Services roads and a third toll lane in each direction from Conflans Road to North Carrier Parkway, constructed by TxDOT (open in April 2010)
• Phase 4: Two toll lanes in each direction from North Carrier Parkway to I-20 with interchanges at I-30 and I-20 (open in October 2012; I-30 interchange partially open)7[