TexasFreeway > Dallas/Fort Worth > Photo Gallery > SH190, President George Bush Turnpike

Highway 190/President George Bush Turnpike (190/GBT) is the east-west freeway across the northern Dallas suburbs. It has been on Dallas planning maps since the 1950's and designated a freeway since 1964, but after nearly being cancelled in the 1980's, it came back to life in the early 1990's when construction finally began. This much-needed freeway will be a tollway due to insufficient TxDOT funding for freeways. Nevertheless, it is a top-quality facility, and the north Dallas suburbs are happy to get it any way they can.

On July 31, 2001, the section of the 190/GBT from IH-35E to Marsh opened. This completed the north section of 190/GBT, providing a continous link from IH-35E to Texas 78 in Garland. Construction on the $418 million GBT-Superconnector between IH-35E and 161 at IH-635 should be underway by early 2002, for a 2004 completion. The eastern segment from Texas 78 to IH-30 is scheduled to begin construction in the summer of 2004.

190/GBT is built on a right-of-way width of the corridor is minimum of 400 feet, so there is space for future expansion. Most of the bridges have been built with extra width to facilitate expansion.

190 History and Timeline

1950's	Loop 9 is put on city planning maps as a major arterial.
1964	Loop 9 is elevated to a full freeway in planning documents.
Early 1970's	The north section of Loop 9, corresponding to the 190 route, is nearly constructed.
1977	The freeway alignment is approved and now designated as state highway 190
1980	190 is near death as the TxDOT budget crunch hits and a lawsuit targets the freeway.
1989	Litigation is settled, in favor of building the freeway.
Early 1990's	Feeder roads are constructed from US 75 eastward to state highway 78
Mid 1990's	Feeder roads are constructed from US 75 westward to Coit road (about 3 miles.)
1995	It is decided to build the facility as a toll road.
1995	The four-level stack at the Dallas North Tollway is completed. It will stand idle for 4 years.
1997	The four-level stack at US 75 is completed.
1999	The first section of tollway opens between US 75 and the Dallas North Tollway
2000	The east section of the tollway between US 75 and SH78 opens
2001	On July 31, 2001, the Tollway was completed from IH-35E to Texas 78 in Garland.
2001	The five-level stack at I-35E will open
2004	The "super connector" to 161 at I-635 will open. Construction should be underway by early 2002.
2004	Construction is scheduled to begin on the eastern segment from Texas 78 to IH-30.

This section opened in September 2000. A third southbound lane was already under construction in August 2001.

The 190/75 interchange, completed in 1997. This is the first four-level interchange in Texas in more than 25 years to have the main lanes on the upper level. Motorists can drive the 190 lanes through the interchange without paying a toll.

The 190/Dallas North Tollway 4-level interchange, completed in 1995. This interchange was completed about 4 years in advance of the tollway main lanes, and stood derelict during that time. If 190 had not been constructed as a tollway, the interchange would have been derelict for 10-20 years.