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S.H. 121 to open
earlier than planned
Cities pleased, commuters
drive toll free until September
~ontinuod irom Polo 1 A
---_---
`,ting complaints everyday at rush
'lour."
According to the Lewisville
spokesperson James Kunke,
the city is also excited about
more effective traffic flow in
the area.
"We're pleased to see the
project reach aconclusion -it's
been a long time," Kunke said.
"Like the motorists, we have
watched the project with
excitement, and at times impa-
tience."
Thanks to the unusually dry
weather and minimal delays in
construction work, there is
relief in sight. And as an added
perk, commuters will have a
free ride, at least until early
September, when TxDOT offi-
cials predict all of the toll
eruipment will be operational.
The road is designed to col-
lect tolls through an entirely
electronic system Conunut.ers
will be able to use the North
Texas Tollway Authority
~h'oliTag, the. transportation
~gency's TxTag and the Harris
aCounty Toll Road Authority's
EZ TAU.
The tolling equipment also
has the ability to snap pictures
of commuters' license plates.
In that case, the driver will be
billed, not ticketed.
"They will be billed for the
toll plus a small administrative
fee, and instead of it being a
violation, they can pay the toll
by a picture of their license
plate," Barth said.
The amount of each toll,
however, is still in the works.
"We haven't calculated what
the actual toll at each gantry
will be," Barth said. "It will be
14-and-a-half cents per mile or
time of day pricing, where it
will be more expensive during
peak hours."
The final decision nn tolls
will be left up to the regional
transportation council.
While construction is almost
completed,. there is still work
to be done on the portion that
runs through Coppell.
Additional sound barriers to
buffer traffic noise have been
approved, but no starC date has
been sel, and the road will
open without those walls in
place.
"One thing that carne out of
the environmental assessment
is that Coppell will be getting
additional sound walls," city
councilmember Jayne Peters
said. "The initial traffic counts
don't warrant them, but we did
get clearance for sound walls
along the Magnolia Park and
Vistas of Coppell subdivisions."
In addition to less traffic
buildup, Lewisville is anticipat-
ing aboost in economic devel-
opment as a result of the S.H.
121 completion.
"We believe it will improve
traffic flow dramatically, and
that it will spur economic
development along that corri-
dor. It is already strong, but it
will get stronger,° Kunke said.
In particular, Kunke said
that the Hilton Garden Inn
opened a location in Lewisville
in anticipation of the 121 pro-
ject.
"Effective traffic 11ow is a
boost Co development, and we
believe 121 will do that," Kunke
said.
An oi'ficial ribbon cutting
ceremony is scheduled for
August.
Staff Writer Crystal
Forester contributed to this
article.