Traffic News

TxDOT proposes re-do of major Dallas freeway interchange at I-635 and I-35

I-635 and I-35 are one of the biggest mix masters in Dallas.

TxDOT

The Texas Department of Transportation has a proposal to improve one of the largest mix masters in Dallas and is seeking public comments.

The $380 million proposed plan is for improvements to the I-635 interchange with I-35 in North Dallas including:

widen and upgrade a 3-mile section of I-635 to 10 lanes (5 in each direction)
widen I-35E to 8 to 10 lanes (4 or 5 in each direction)
create "continuous" frontage roads, 4 to 6 lanes wide (2 or 3 in each direction)

These proposed improvements would cover I-635 from Luna Road to Loop 354/Denton Drive, and I-35E and I-35E Express from Royal Lane to Valley View Lane.

I-635 currently has 7 lanes in that area: 4 lanes westbound and 3 eastbound. I-35 currently has 6 to 8 lanes.

Project manager Nelson Underwood says that the goal is to make the interchange more free-flowing, with continuous frontage roads on each side.

The retooling will also remove and relocate two left exits — at westbound I-635 and northbound I-35E — to right exits.

"This would do away with the left exits and move them to their proper location: right-hand entrances and exits," Underwood says. "That interchange was originally built in the '60s. It's old. That's another part of why we’re looking at making improvements."

The project ties in to the current I-35E rebuild, which widens I-35E from 6 to 8 lanes between I-635 and the Denton County line. That work began in spring 2022 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.

The state held a public meeting on the plan on November 2, which drew 20-30 attendees, and will hold at least two more meetings, with the next one in the spring.

But residents can submit input on the project via a comment portal on the TxDOT website through November 17.

“We’re asking for some early ideas and we want to get some opinions,” says TxDOT spokeswoman Kenna Mitchell. “We want to know of anything that we missed. People are out there driving on this every day. Is there something we should look at in addition to what we are proposing?”

They anticipate that some right-of-way property will need to be acquired, but TxDOT says it will not involve residences.

The project will impact a huge number of drivers: In 2022, I-35E south of I-635 carried 231,599 vehicles a day.

If it goes according to plan, a completed study would be ready by 2026, which would mark the beginning of design.

The long lead time is typical of any large road project. There are currently $3 billion in state road projects taking place in Dallas County. (See the largest projects underway here.)

Comments are encouraged. Email project manager at Nelson.Underwood@txdot.gov, or send regular mail to project manager Nelson Underwood, TxDOT Dallas District Office, 4777 E. US Highway 80, Mesquite, Texas 75150

All comments and mail must be submitted and postmarked by Friday, November 17, 2023, to be included in the public record. Those without internet access can call 214-320-6628 Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm.

transportation traffic

Population report

Collin County explodes with growth as Dallas County dips, says U.S. Census

Facebook/City of Celina

undefined

Collin County is experiencing a big population surge. The county north of Dallas — home to Princeton, the country’s fastest-growing city — ranked second among U.S. counties for adding the most residents from 2024 to 2025, new U.S. Census Bureau estimates show.

Meanwhile, Dallas County saw one of the country’s biggest drops in population on a percentage basis.

From July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, Collin County gained 42,966 residents, lifting its population by 3.4 percent to nearly 1.3 million, according to the Census Bureau report, released Thursday, March 26.

If the Texas Demographic Center’s projections are correct, Collin County is poised for much more growth. Based on a middle-of-the-road migration scenario, the center predicts the county’s population will exceed 1.4 million in 2030, surpass 1.7 million in 2040, and reach 2.2 million in 2050.

Only Houston-anchored Harris County beat Collin County in that category. During the same one-year period, Harris County grew by 48,695 residents, or 1 percent, pushing its population over the five million mark.

The biggest cities in Collin County are Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Allen. While population growth is popping in those three places, it’s the smaller suburbs that are witnessing more explosive growth. Aside from Princeton, rapidly growing Collin County suburbs include Anna, Celina, and Melissa.

From July 2023 to July 2024, Princeton’s population soared by 30.6 percent, rising from about 28,000 residents to more than 37,000. City officials attribute Princeton’s population to the affordability of housing. Just one sign of Princeton’s growth: Developers broke ground in March on the city’s first medical office building.

“This medical office development is an exciting milestone for Princeton, bringing essential health care services closer to our growing community,” says Mike Thompson, chairman of the Princeton Economic Development Corp.

Elsewhere in Dallas-Fort Worth, Kaufman County ranked third in the U.S. for population growth on a numeric basis. Its population jumped 5.67 percent, going from 198,010 in 2024 to 209,235 in 2025.

Other Texas counties that show up in the percentage-growth category are:

Second-ranked Waller County (Houston area), whose population climbed 5.69 percent, winding up at 69,858.
Eighth-ranked Liberty County (Houston area), whose population rose 4.4 percent to 121,364.
Tenth-ranked Caldwell County (Austin), whose population grew 4.2 percent to 55,150.

On the other end of the spectrum, Dallas County saw its population decline from 2024 to 2025. According to Census Bureau estimates, Dallas County’s population fell from 2,664,013 to 2,661,397, a decrease of 2,616 residents. On a numeric basis, Dallas County ranked ninth among population-losing counties.

To calculate population growth, the Census Bureau takes into account births, new residents, deaths, and moved-away residents.

Aside from Collin and Harris counties, three other Texas counties landed in the top 10 for numeric growth from 2024 to 2025:

Fourth-ranked Montgomery County (Houston area): Gain of 30,011 residents, with a July 1, 2025, total of 781,194. That’s a one-year growth rate of four percent.
Eighth-ranked Fort Bend County (Houston area): Gain of 24,163 residents, with a July 1, 2025, total of 975,191. That’s a one-year growth rate of 2.5 percent.
Ninth-ranked Williamson County (Austin area): Gain of 23,814, with a July 1, 2025, total of 752,827. That’s a one-year growth rate of 3.2 percent.

On a percentage basis, no metro area in Texas appears among the 10 fast-growing metro areas. However, the state’s four major metros are among the 10 fastest-growing on a numeric basis:

Houston: The metro area ranked first for growth on a numeric basis, adding 126,720 residents in just one year. The region’s population was slightly over 7.9 million on July 1, 2025, representing a 1.6 percent growth rate.
DFW: The metro area ranked second for growth on a numeric basis, gaining 123,557 residents during the one-year period. Its population as of July 1, 2025, was nearly 8.48 million, representing a nearly 1.5 percent growth rate.
Austin: The metro area ranked sixth for growth on a numeric basis, expanding by 53,796 residents. As of July 1, 2025, the region’s population was 2.62 million, with a 2.1 percent growth rate.
San Antonio: The metro area ranked ninth for growth on a numeric basis, picking up 38,402 residents. The region’s population was 2.81 million on July 1, 2025, with a nearly 1.4 percent growth rate.

census census bureau population report collin county population growth