By Miranda Jaimes, Managing Editor for Community Impact
A project to widen US 380 in Frisco is expected to move forward in 2023.
In spring 2022 environmental assessment began on a project the Texas Department of Transportation would conduct that would widen US 380 from Teel Parkway to west of Lakewood Drive in Collin County. Environmental assessments are necessary to minimize effects of TxDOT projects to both nature and humans.
If there are no major issues from the environmental analysis that cannot be addressed in a reasonable time frame, final environmental clearance for the project is expected in spring 2023, according to a TxDOT presentation.
The project would widen the 5.9-mile stretch of US 380 and reconstruct the road to a 12-foot-wide, six-lane divided highway with two- to three-lane continuous frontage roads. The project would also allow for drainage improvements, ramps to provide accessibility, interchange improvements and sidewalks along both sides of the highway.
US 380’s capacity is exceeded due to the rapid growth in both Denton and Collin counties, according to the TxDOT presentation. This leads to increased congestion, reduced mobility and higher crash rates compared to other similar roadways in the region, the presentation stated.
US 380 in Frisco and Denton County is already under construction. Crews are working between Teel Parkway and Mahard Drive. Once the construction is completed, the existing US 380 roadway within the proposed project limits will be a six-lane divided roadway with a raised center median, two-foot-wide inside and outside shoulders, and curb and gutter.
This part of the work on US 380 is expected to be completed in 2025.
Once the environmental clearance is granted for the project to reconstruct the road to six lanes each direction, TxDOT will begin acquiring the property needed in the area to build the widened road and find funds for the $630 million project.
The department expects to start accepting bids to construct the project in 2026, with construction following shortly.
Photo: Miranda Jaimes/Community Impact
