A heavily congested intersection in Van Alstyne has been designated a tier one priority in the Texas Department of Transportation’s 10-year Unified Transportation Program. The designation for the junction of US 75 and FM 121, also known as Van Alstyne Parkway, allows engineering and funding processes to proceed for a $67.2 million expansion project.
The location has long drawn complaints from drivers who report waiting through multiple traffic light cycles to clear the crossing. Resident Johana Diego stated she sometimes endures three to four signal changes before passing through. State Rep. Shelley Luther and Mayor Jim Atchison traveled to Austin roughly two months prior to the announcement to meet with the Texas Transportation Commission chairman and advocate for the project.
Securing tier one status places the expansion among the first projects in line once engineering is finalized and funds are available. Luther noted that inclusion on the 10-year plan is a prerequisite for any action. The project was previously part of broader construction efforts in Van Alstyne, but TxDOT removed the bridge component from that work three to four years ago due to budget constraints.
The current plan involves widening the main lanes from four to six and converting access roads from two-way to one-way traffic. The scope also includes expanding the intersection from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction, along with the addition of two U-turn lanes. Atchison identified the replacement of the US 75 bridge as the primary driver of the project cost.
Local governments have committed significant funds to the effort. Van Alstyne has pledged $4.5 million in local match funding, Grayson County is contributing $1.5 million, and a local transportation organization is providing $500,000. City officials indicated that a portion of the local match will cover engineering, which is expected to conclude in the first quarter of next year.
Construction is anticipated to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2027, pending funding availability, and is estimated to last approximately two years. Contractors will receive financial incentives to complete the work ahead of schedule. During construction, officials plan to keep half of the US 75 bridge open at any given time, reducing traffic to one lane plus access roads. Alternate routes are being developed to manage the expected congestion.
