Investing in infrastructure From the cover
What’s happening
FM 407 breakout project
Denton County officials approved a little over $12.5 million for two local transportation projects to enhance mobility for area residents Jan 30. One of those is what officials call a “breakout project.” It’s work pulled out from the broader widening of FM 407 led by the Texas Department of Transportation, and focuses on the intersection at FM 407 and I-35W, which will involve adding a right-turn lane to FM 407 and the I-35W access road, respectively, on the west side of the intersection. Other improvements included in the $3.03 million project are adding drainage, updating pavement markings and updating vehicle deflection walls at the FM 407 overpass for I-35W. Dianne Edmondson, Denton County Precinct 4 commissioner, said the project should help with the broader widening of FM 407 from four to six lanes from Bill Cook Road to FM 1830 in Argyle, which could get environmental clearance in June. “We have taken the initiative to help the state with this project by getting [the] initial set-up completed so that [the FM 407 widening] might be finished earlier,” Edmondson said in an email. Tila Grant, a public information officer with TxDOT, said these improvements are the first portion of the $35 million-$40 million project in the area, which is currently unfunded. Based on state traffic count data, the number of average daily trips increased from 14,326 in 2019 to 21,051 in 2024 west of the FM 407 and I-35W intersection. East of the intersection, traffic has gone from 12,216 to 15,325 average daily trips. “The fast-paced population growth across Denton County has brought increased traffic into the FM 407 corridor,” Edmondson said. “The project on FM 407 in [the] Northlake/Argyle area has been in the making a long time.”
Existing permanent lanes Pavement extension of existing lane Temporary pavement extension
35W
407
FM 407 widening
35W
1830
HARVEST WAY
407
407
377
BILL COOK RD.
MAP NOT TO SCALE N
FM 407 breakout project timeline
October 2025: commissioners approve funding to design the FM 407 breakout project
Spring 2026: work is slated to begin on the project
Early fall 2026: breakout project projected to be completed
January 2026: funding for the project is allocated after approval from county commissioners
SOURCE: DENTON COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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