From Staff Reports

Preparations have begun to reconstruct U.S. 75 (Central Expressway) between Spur 399 (SH 121) and U.S. 380. Orange flags and cones marking utilities to be relocated along the frontage roads signal the start of the four-year project to rebuild Central Expressway.The Contractor, W.W. Webber, LLC, is expected to occupy the corridor today. The $106 million project will add two lanes in each direction on the mainlanes and one in each direction on the frontage roads giving the highway a total of eight mainlanes and six frontage road lanes. This will add needed capacity in anticipation of staying ahead of the explosive growth in population in Collin County. Listed as one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, Collin County grew by more than 61 percent between 2000 and 2009.

“Frisco and McKinney are two of the fastest growing cities in the nation and the challenge to meet transportation needs has never been greater,” said Barry Heard, P.E., Collin County Interim Area Engineer.

During construction, motorists can expect various mainlane closures during weekdays and some weekends. Several bridges on the project will be demolished and rebuilt. This will necessitate closing mainlanes of traffic and diverting traffic onto frontage roads past the bridge work to the next highway entrance. Every consideration will be given to maintaining traffic flow and to the safety of the traveling public.

This is one of five projects either underway, nearing completion or just starting up on the Central Expressway corridor through McKinney from SH 121 to Melissa Road. This project is expected to be substantially complete in the summer of 2015.

Message boards will be placed before major lane closures begin to notify drivers.