State Highway 161

Client: North Texas Tollway Authority

Location: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, U.S.

Map showing the location of State Highway 161

Executive Summary

The Fluor-led joint venture of Prairie Link Constructors (PLC) used the design-build approach to deliver Phase 4 of the State Highway 161 (SH 161) toll road for the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA). The NTTA operates and maintains the toll road.

Phase 4 included the design and construction of two toll lanes in each direction along 6.5 miles of SH 161, extending from north of Interstate Highway (IH) 30 to IH 20, and includes multi-level interchanges at both interstate highways. PLC constructed an undercrossing beneath the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and West Main Street and West Jefferson Street, which lie on either side of the railroad. To accommodate the later facility configuration, PLC constructed three-lane mainline bridges in each direction.

The project was recognized for its safety record and its benefits to the region.

Client's Challenge

The NTTA selected PLC in August 2009 to design and construct Phase 4 of the SH 161 project. Fluor served as the managing partner of PLC, a joint venture of Fluor and Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. The lead designer was AECOM Technology Corporation. The contract value was $423 million, below NTTA's original estimate for the project of $610 million. NTTA was responsible for arranging the toll equity financing and would also operate and maintain the length of the SH 161 Tollway.

The SH 161 project was in a high-growth corridor of Dallas-Fort Worth. As part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Transportation Plan, the new connector highway has a key role in improving the intraregional transportation network. Phase 4 was the final phase of construction of 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometers) of the 11.5-mile (18.5-kilometer) SH 161 corridor, which is part of the growing transportation loop around Dallas. The other three phases were fully or substantially completed and opened to traffic when the contract to Phase 4 was awarded to PLC.

Fluor's Solution

The Fluor-led joint venture used the design-build approach to deliver Phase 4 of the SH 161 toll road for NTTA. The NTTA will operate and maintain the toll road.

The multi-level interchange at IH 20 includes a three-leg, four-level interchange with four direct connector ramps. At the IH 30 interchange, the improvements comprise a fully directional, five-level interchange with eight direct connector ramps consisting of either one or two lanes.

The project added a five-level interchange with five direct connector ramps being elevated and three direct connector ramps being depressed. There were 45 bridges added, and construction included nearly 1 million square feet of retaining wall.

Conclusion

The SH 161 project was completed on schedule and on budget in the fourth quarter 2012. At peak, the project mobilized more than 800 subcontract, management and craft personnel and achieved more than 3 million work hours without a lost-time incident.

The SH 161 project was ranked 7th in Roads & Bridges magazine's Top 10 Roads List for 2012, recognizing the top road projects in North America based on project challenges, impact to region and scope of work.