Page last updated or reviewed: July 19, 2016; June 4, 2017 (add photos); January 30, 2018 (update for project completion)
A $1.4 billion improvement project on IH-35E north was completed in 2017. The project included the addition of four direct connection ramps at SH 121, the Sam Rayburn Tollway. New collector-distributor lanes were added between SH 121 and the Bush Turnpike. The collector-distributor lanes were hugely beneficial, drastically reducing congestion on this section of the freeway.
Three restaurants were displaced on the northeast corner of I-35E and SH 121. This view looking northeast along the northbound I-35E frontage road shows the Abuelo's Mexican restaurant and Frankie's sports bar. All three restaurants were cleared in 2015.
(Photo date: 27-November-2014)
A closer view of Abuelo's, "Mexican Food Embassy".
(Photo date: 27-November-2014)
Frankies sports bar was the next restaurant going north.
(Photo date: 27-November-2014)
North of Frankie's there was a section of parking lot before Mimi's Cafe.
(Photo date: 27-November-2014)
Notification on the entrance of Mimi's.
(Photo date: 27-November-2014)
Footing for the connection ramp from southbound/westbound SH 121 to northbound I-35E.
(Photo date: 27-November-2014)
Footings for the connection ramp from southbound/westbound SH 121 to northbound I-35E, with an overhead sign for I-35E visibile in the background.
(Photo date: 27-November-2014)
This September 5, 2015, view looks south toward the interchange. The restaurants were cleared, but the sign for Frankie's was still in place.
(Photo date: 5-September-2015)
(Photo date: 5-September-2015)
(Photo date: 5-September-2015)
This view shows the substantial progress on the ramp closer to SH 121, with piers and beams in position.
(Photo date: 5-September-2015)
This March 2016 view looking northwest shows the pier for the new ramp from southbound I-35E to eastbound SH 121.
(Photo date: 26-March-2016)
Another view of the new pier
(Photo date: 26-March-2016)
This view looks west along SH 121. In foreground is a form for a pier for the SH 121 eastbound to I-35E northbound ramp. Further back in the distance are piers for the ramp for I-35E northbound to SH 121 westbound.
(Photo date: 26-March-2016)
This view looks west along SH 121 on the southwest side of the interchange, showing progress on the ramp from SH 121 eastbound to I-35E northbound.
(Photo date: 26-March-2016)
Piers on the northwest side of the interchange.
(Photo date: 26-March-2016)
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Looking south, from the north side of the interchange. The pier is for the eastbound SH 121 to northbound IH-35E ramp.
(Photo date: 2-July-2016)
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The northbound IH-35E frontage road is in the foreground.
(Photo date: 2-July-2016)
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(Photo date: 2-July-2016)
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Looking southwest
(Photo date: 2-July-2016)
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(Photo date: 2-July-2016)
These are ramps to northbound IH-35E on the northeast side of the interchange. The IH-35E main lanes on the left.
(Photo date: 2-July-2016)
Near the center of the interchange, a form was in place for a pier.
(Photo date: 2-July-2016)
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The ramps were nearing completion in this April 2017 photo.
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)
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On the U-turn from southbound IH 35E to northbound IH 35E
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)
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Looking northbound along IH 35E
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)
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Looking northbound along IH 35E
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)
Looking along the IH 35E southbound frontage road, underneath the connection ramp
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)
On the east side of the interchange
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)
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This view looking northbound along IH 35 shows the new collector-distributor lanes, which had just opened when this photo was taken in April 2017.
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)
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Another view of the IH 35 collector-distributor lanes.
(Photo date: 8-April-2017)