TX161

NTTA and TxDOT are opening the first segment of the State Highway 161 (SH161 or TX161) main toll lanes August 1. The new tollroad built by TxDOT will be operated by North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA), the regional public toll authority in the Dallas Fort Worth metro area.

North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) chairman Paul Wageman is quoted: "There is very little or no credit out there right now and the access to the credit markets are almost non-existent." So they are being innovatory.

After months of rancorous arguments TxDOT has backed down agreeing to NTTA terms, reaching a kind of agreement on the value of the toll concession on State Highway 161 (TX161) in the south central part of the Dallas-Ft Worth metro area. Agreement on the "market valuation" of the concession with NTTA allowed construction of the road to begin today.

North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) continues a protracted effort to gain a toll concession on State Highway 161 (TX161) for about $500m less than investors are willing to advance. NTTA says the project is worth $1200m or about $300m more than the $900m that the 18km (11 mile) highway will cost to build.