Highway 199 in Tarrant County Could See Millions in Highway Funding

Some relief could be on the way for some of the most congested roads in North Texas.

Later this month the Texas Transportation Commission will vote to approve 14 projects totaling $1.3 billion.

Two of those projects are in Dallas County and three are in Tarrant County.

In northwest Fort Worth there is a three-mile stretch featuring twists and turns that runs from highway speeds to stop lights.

But if the commission gives the green light to the Texas Department of Transportation, the on-the-highway and off-the-highway nature of State Highway 199 in that section from Fort Worth to Azle would change.

"I'm hoping they do because they've been trying to do that for a long, long time," said Candy Smith, of Azle.

Some residents said it's been a decade of waiting for the highway to be completed.

The project would be part of the state's Congestion Initiative Funding, focused on the state's four largest metropolitan areas and projects that can be finished on an "accelerated pace."

If approved on Feb. 25 at the commission's quarterly meeting, $56.5 million would head to project on Jacksboro Highway.

"I think it would be great," Smith said. "It'll make things flow a lot better."

The project would essentially end the stop-and-go traffic by building bridges for the highway to pass over cross-traffic. But not everyone thinks such work is warranted in that area.

"There's not enough traffic to justify this to happen here," said Doug Carr, of Fort Worth.

Carr said there's heavier traffic and congestion along U.S. Highway 287 in far northwest Fort Worth.

"We only have so much in the budget, let's use it where we need it," he said.

However, TxDOT said the State Highway 199 corridor is seeing an increase in traffic as more people move into the Azle area.

"It's a good place to live – lots of people moving in," Smith said.

If approved, construction could possibly get moving before the end of the year where the end result very well could speed things up.

The commission will vote on the projects and another $800 million for other projects involving connectivity.