Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge (LLTB) is a bridge crossing Lewisville Lake
in Denton County, Texas
, USA. The North Texas Tollway Authority
(NTTA) worked cooperatively with Denton County to plan and design a toll bridge across the northwestern arm of Lewisville Lake. The new four-lane toll bridge connects Swisher Road in Lake Dallas
to Eldorado Parkway in Little Elm, Texas
. The Lewisville Lake Corridor is approximately 13.8 miles long and is divided into eight sections constructed by Denton County, NTTA, TxDOT, Little Elm, and Frisco, Texas.
Motorists in these fast-growing areas of Denton County are now able to travel on a new connection between Interstate 35E
and the Dallas North Tollway
, eliminating the circuitous (and highly congested) routes currently required around Lewisville Lake (though it now funnels traffic onto I-35E north of the bridge over Lewisville Lake, which itself is a notorious bottleneck). The conceptual design of the project entailed eight sections that, together, total 13 miles (20.9 km). Only the 1.7 miles (2.7 km) bridge over the lake is tolled. The bridge is 55 feet (16.8 m) above the normal water level, to allow clearance for sailboats. The "signature" of the bridge, according to the NTTA, is the 360 feet (109.7 m) steel section with arches that rise to 60 feet (18.3 m) above the road deck (which resembles the arches of Austin's Pennybacker Bridge
). The surfaces of this section are lighted with LED
s at night to make the structure visible from the surrounding shores of the lake.
The project opened to vehicular traffic on August 1, 2009 after a charity run and walk across the bridge. The NTTA stated that occasion was the only time pedestrians will ever be allowed to cross the bridge. The NTTA funded and constructed the toll bridge while the cities along the corridor, Denton County and Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) funded improvements to the roadways approaching the bridge. Eldorado Parkway approaching the bridge is not yet widened and under construction. The NTTA toll across the bridge section is $1.00 for TollTag customers and $1.50 for ZipCash drivers.
expanded Lewisville Lake
. The old bridge provided a vital transportation link between Lake Dallas and Little Elm.
Lewisville Lake
Lewisville Lake is a reservoir located in North Texas on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River in Denton County near Lewisville. The lake is primarily used recreationally for boating and watercraft, however, it was built for flood control purposes and to serve as a water source for Dallas and its...
in Denton County, Texas
Denton County, Texas
Denton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The county...
, USA. The North Texas Tollway Authority
North Texas Tollway Authority
The North Texas Tollway Authority maintains and operates toll roads, bridges and tunnels in the North Texas area. Functioning as a political subdivision of the State of Texas under Chapter 366 of the Transportation Code, the NTTA is empowered to acquire, construct, maintain, repair and operate...
(NTTA) worked cooperatively with Denton County to plan and design a toll bridge across the northwestern arm of Lewisville Lake. The new four-lane toll bridge connects Swisher Road in Lake Dallas
Lake Dallas, Texas
Lake Dallas is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,166 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lake Dallas is located at ....
to Eldorado Parkway in Little Elm, Texas
Little Elm, Texas
Little Elm is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States and a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 3,646 at the 2000 census. By the 2010 census, the city total had jumped to 25,898...
. The Lewisville Lake Corridor is approximately 13.8 miles long and is divided into eight sections constructed by Denton County, NTTA, TxDOT, Little Elm, and Frisco, Texas.
Motorists in these fast-growing areas of Denton County are now able to travel on a new connection between Interstate 35E
Interstate 35E (Texas)
Interstate 35E , an Interstate Highway, is the eastern half of Interstate 35 where it splits to serve different cities in Texas. I-35 splits into two branch routes, I-35W and I-35E at Hillsboro. I-35E runs north for , maintaining I-35's sequence of exit numbers. It runs through Dallas before...
and the Dallas North Tollway
Dallas North Tollway
The Dallas North Tollway is a controlled-access toll road operated by the North Texas Tollway Authority , which runs from Interstate 35E near downtown Dallas, Texas , to U.S...
, eliminating the circuitous (and highly congested) routes currently required around Lewisville Lake (though it now funnels traffic onto I-35E north of the bridge over Lewisville Lake, which itself is a notorious bottleneck). The conceptual design of the project entailed eight sections that, together, total 13 miles (20.9 km). Only the 1.7 miles (2.7 km) bridge over the lake is tolled. The bridge is 55 feet (16.8 m) above the normal water level, to allow clearance for sailboats. The "signature" of the bridge, according to the NTTA, is the 360 feet (109.7 m) steel section with arches that rise to 60 feet (18.3 m) above the road deck (which resembles the arches of Austin's Pennybacker Bridge
Pennybacker Bridge
The Pennybacker Bridge in Austin, Texas bridges Lake Austin to connect north and south Loop 360 highway, also known as the "Capital of Texas Highway." The road is widely considered one of the most scenic urban drives in central Texas, in large part due to this arched weathering steel bridge and...
). The surfaces of this section are lighted with LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
s at night to make the structure visible from the surrounding shores of the lake.
The project opened to vehicular traffic on August 1, 2009 after a charity run and walk across the bridge. The NTTA stated that occasion was the only time pedestrians will ever be allowed to cross the bridge. The NTTA funded and constructed the toll bridge while the cities along the corridor, Denton County and Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
(TxDOT) funded improvements to the roadways approaching the bridge. Eldorado Parkway approaching the bridge is not yet widened and under construction. The NTTA toll across the bridge section is $1.00 for TollTag customers and $1.50 for ZipCash drivers.
History
A bridge previously connected Little Elm and Lake Dallas, but was removed in the 1950s when the United States Army Corps of EngineersUnited States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
expanded Lewisville Lake
Lewisville Lake
Lewisville Lake is a reservoir located in North Texas on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River in Denton County near Lewisville. The lake is primarily used recreationally for boating and watercraft, however, it was built for flood control purposes and to serve as a water source for Dallas and its...
. The old bridge provided a vital transportation link between Lake Dallas and Little Elm.
Controversy
Part of Eldorado Parkway leading up to the east side of the bridge is only two lanes causing delays with the increased traffic. The road will not be upgraded to four lanes by TxDOT until 2011. Some residents of Lakewood Village and Little Elm are concerned about the increased traffic through the once isolated peninsula.Project Costs
- Project Cost Estimate: $220 million (entire corridor)
- Estimated NTTA Cost: $122 million (toll bridge only)
Key Dates
- May 2005 - The NTTA Board of Directors selected a preliminary design of the bridge, which features a distinctive tied arch spanning 360 feet (109.7 m) at the center with approaches and thresholds flanked by pairs of lighted columns.
- Late 2005 - A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental impact assessmentAn environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects....
is received - Early 2006 - Completion of plans, specifications and estimates on the toll bridge and public hearings for sections 4-6 and 8. Design for sections 4-6 initiated.
- Spring 2006 - Denton County broke ground on Section 1, west of the bridge, and construction is under way.
- Summer 2006 - Construction on Section 3, the eastern approach to the bridge, is planned to begin in late summer 2006.
- January 2007 - Groundbreaking for the bridge was held in Denton County on January 31, 2007
- May 2007 - Crews have built and placed many of the rebarRebarA rebar , also known as reinforcing steel, reinforcement steel, rerod, or a deformed bar, is a common steel bar, and is commonly used as a tensioning device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures holding the concrete in compression...
frames for the support columns on the west bank and will soon begin pouring concrete into them. - May 2008 - Construction of the bridge reached the halfway point.
- January 2009 - All four corner pieces of the arch structure are in place.
- April 2009 - The last major rib arch piece was installed. Construction is approximately 90% complete.
- August 1, 2009 - Charity run and walk across bridge. Bridge opens to vehicular traffic.
- February 28, 2010 - Last portions of the construction work are completed, including work on the arch lighting.
Map and Images
- Detailed Map (PDF): A detailed map of the whole project is available as a PDF from the Denton County Commissioner's page.
- High-resolution Rendering: A high resolution rendering of the bridge's "gateway" span is available from the Denton County Commissioner's page.
See also
- Denton County, TexasDenton County, TexasDenton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 432,976; in 2009 the estimated population had reached 628,300. Part of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, it is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. The county seat is Denton. The county...
- Frisco, TexasFrisco, TexasFrisco is an affluent city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 Census, 116,989 people were living in Frisco up from 33,714 in the previous census. Frisco was the fastest growing city in the United States in 2009, and also...
- Lake Dallas, TexasLake Dallas, TexasLake Dallas is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,166 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lake Dallas is located at ....
- Little Elm, TexasLittle Elm, TexasLittle Elm is a city in Denton County, Texas, United States and a part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The population was 3,646 at the 2000 census. By the 2010 census, the city total had jumped to 25,898...