ARLINGTON — Federal stimulus money could be used to speed up construction of the proposed Southwest Parkway toll road in Fort Worth — perhaps including construction of a massive Southwest Parkway/Interstate 20 interchange near Hulen Mall beginning in midyear, officials say.
Members of the Regional Transportation Council said at a meeting Thursday in Arlington that they hope to receive $130 million in federal economic recovery funds for transportation. Their goal is to combine that stimulus cash with existing state funds, and build one or two large road projects.
Instead of spreading the federal funds over dozens of small projects, regional decision-makers say they’re leaning toward investing in a couple of big-ticket items with a "wow factor" – which in theory would impress and perhaps rejuvenate motorists who are psychologically beaten down by years of traffic congestion.
The second candidate for federal stimulus money would be the Interstate 35W/Loop 820 interchange in north Fort Worth.
"Both of these projects are ready to go. This would be a home run because it would complete our legacy projects," Fort Worth Councilman Jungus Jordan said during the meeting.
The Southwest Parkway/I-20 interchange would cost about $271 million. It's a key part of the proposed $1.8 billion Southwest Parkway toll road from downtown Fort Worth to Cleburne.
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