Skip to main content

Texas Interstate connection upgrade project

Consultancy firm Michael Baker International has a US$4 million contract from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide safer road links and bridges along the southern gateway corridor into Dallas. This project is due for completion in 2021. It will provide a long-term transportation and operational improvement effort to boost safety, cut congestion and while address roadway deficiencies and system linkage for the critical I-35E and US 67 artery.
January 31, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Consultancy firm Michael Baker International has a US$4 million contract from the 3499 Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide safer road links and bridges along the southern gateway corridor into Dallas. This project is due for completion in 2021. It will provide a long-term transportation and operational improvement effort to boost safety, cut congestion and while address roadway deficiencies and system linkage for the critical I-35E and US 67 artery.


As part of the larger transportation design/build construction project, Michael Baker will perform Owner Verification Testing and Inspection (OVTI) oversight and conduct audits to verify the design-build team’s Construction Quality Management Plan (CQMP).

“The I-35E and US 67 exchange continues to serve as a highly congested roadway for commuters traveling into the Dallas Metro Area, and the southern gateway corridor project represents a large-scale effort to improve transportation in this highly congested urban area,” said Jorge M Suarez, PE, vice president and director of structural engineering at Michael Baker International. “Michael Baker’s construction management expertise, through inspections, audits and testing, will ensure that the project’s design and construction are completed smartly and safely to help the community and region by reducing congestion and making freeways safer.”

As part of the contract, Michael Baker will perform Owner Verification (OV) tests at a stipulated testing frequency, along with the review and approval of Quality Assurance (QA) test results. The team will review the performance of statistical analysis of OV and QA test results and associated tasks arising out of the statistical analysis with all partnering agencies.

The Southern Gateway Project, which is currently underway, consists of adding reversible non-tolled express lanes and/or general-purpose lanes to improve capacity in the corridor. In addition, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations are proposed where frontage road reconstruction is proposed.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • First phase of Houston reversible HOV to HOT lanes completed
    April 19, 2012
    Houston’s Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (Metro) working with prime contractor TransCore has commissioned the first of five reversible high occupancy toll (HOT) lane corridors. One of the most substantial undertakings of its kind to date in the United States, Metro’s conversion of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to HOT lanes will increase utilisation of the HOV system and subsequently relieve congestion in the general purpose freeway lanes. When completed, the programme will span 135k
  • Texas route benefits from loan
    March 1, 2012
    Drivers in Texas using the SH161 route are set to benefit from a US$418 million loan being provided by the US Department of Transportation to complete work on the link.
  • Florida highway rebuild project
    May 2, 2018
    Rebuilding a congested stretch of highway in Florida will cut congestion and boost safety for commuters - Mike Woof writes. Florida’s 214km-long I-4 highway provides a key transport route between Tampa and Daytona Beach, but has an unenviable reputation for both congestion and safety, with frequent delays due to heavy traffic as well as crashes. The stretch running through the city of Orlando is particularly prone to jams at peak periods, with huge traffic volumes resulting in vehicles having to slow to a c
  • Building Tomorrow’s Transport Infrastructure Today – IRF Global in Washington
    May 2, 2018
    Preparations are underway for the world’s leading road, tunnel and bridge exhibition Produced by the International Road Federation, the IRF Global Road2Tunnel Expo & Conference is the only international conference and tradeshow of its kind dedicated to road, tunnel and bridge construction. “Technology and innovations are evolving at a pace never seen before in the history of the road and transport sector” noted IRF president & CEO C Patrick Sankey. “From innovations in materials, such as self-healing con