Many projects have been completed since the 28-mile roadway began showing up on thoroughfare plans some four decades ago. But one thing has remained the same – the dream of people living and working along the corridor that they would one day have a direct route to Fort Worth, Cleburne or in between.
That dream could become reality by mid-2014. That’s when the North Texas Tollway Authority plans to complete Chisholm Trail Parkway, the first road the agency will build in Tarrant and Johnson counties.
A common theme emerged from the beginning at the Cleburne event – cooperation. NTTA will build the road, but without the coordination of many local, state and federal partners, the project would likely still be in the discussion phase. NTTA, the Texas Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Regional Transportation Council, Johnson and Tarrant counties, and the cities along the corridor were all instrumental in the project moving from concept to construction.
“This is one of the most important events for this area since the railroad came to Cleburne,” said Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon, an RTC member.
“And I believe that you’re going to see a tremendous change in the Johnson County area because of this.”
Officials praised the project for the expected boost to business and quality of life it will provide. It will make trips between Tarrant and Johnson counties quicker and easier, as drivers will no longer have to endure the numerous traffic lights on State Highway 174. Instead, they will have a direct route, reducing drive time and paving the way for business expansion.
Pieces of Chisholm Trail Parkway have been under way since 2010, with work on interchanges at Interstate Highway 20 and US Highway 67, and a Hulen Street bridge over the Davidson railroad yard. But now the work connecting these pieces and the communities in between has finally begun. And NTTA is listening to the concerns of residents and business leaders, holding regular meetings to discuss the project and address the public’s concerns.
Still, those residents and businesses will have to deal with the inconveniences that accompany major construction projects for the next 2 years. But that’s a small price to pay, especially for those who have waited more than 40 years for the road’s arrival.
Soon, there will be a different route from Cleburne to Fort Worth.
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