Denton County is spending millions on smaller road projects along the I-35W corridor to ease congestion for Flower Mound and Highland Village commuters while larger state-led improvements remain years away.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Dianne Edmondson, whose office sits at the Southwest Courthouse on Canyon Falls Drive in Flower Mound, outlined the county's two-track strategy in a column published Aug. 15 in the Cross Timbers Gazette. The Commissioners Court is focused on interchanges at FM 1171, FM 407, Robson Ranch Road and the I-35W/I-35E merge in Denton.
"We have successfully created break-out projects to address congestion issues in certain key areas as we await larger projects with the Texas Department of Transportation," Edmondson wrote.
The approach uses county-funded construction to deliver near-term relief at choke points while TxDOT plans full interchange rebuilds on longer timelines.
FM 407 at I-35W: $2 million, nearly done
The most visible result so far is at the FM 407/I-35W interchange, a major commuter gateway for residents heading toward Argyle and Northlake. Denton County launched a $2 million "micro breakout" project there on April 6, adding right-turn lanes west of I-35W and through lanes beneath the bridge.
When the county announced the project in April, Edmondson acknowledged the frustration drivers had felt. "We know this has been a difficult situation for residents who use this route and, though improvements to FM 407 are in our long-term plans, we needed to take action sooner than later," she said at the time.
By late July, crews had finished striping under the I-35W bridge, opening two lanes of traffic in both directions. Northlake Mayor Brian Montini said he observed no backups in any direction during visits to the intersection after the work was completed.
A larger, longer-term FM 407 interchange project remains years from completion. No timeline or funding amount for that TxDOT-led effort has been announced.
Robson Ranch Road: construction through early 2027
Farther north, construction began Aug. 10 on a Robson Ranch Road expansion in southwest Denton, widening the road from four to five lanes between Sagehawk Drive and I-35W. The project adds left-turn and dedicated right-turn lanes, plus a new left-turn lane at the Ed Robson Boulevard entrance to Robson Ranch and widening of northbound Cleveland-Gibbs Road.
The City of Denton is managing construction; Denton County funded the design. Drivers should expect periodic right-lane closures in both directions through early 2027. Alternate routes include Cleveland-Gibbs Road, Harvest Way, Old Justin Road, FM 407 and Yarbrough Way to FM 2449.
FM 1171: $117 million TxDOT project on I-35E
Edmondson also referenced FM 1171 in her corridor planning list. A $117 million TxDOT project to reconstruct the interchange at FM 1171 and I-35E in Lewisville began in 2023 and is expected to wrap in 2027. That project rebuilds the grade separation and frontage roads at FM 1171 and Main Street.
Whether the Commissioners Court is also planning a separate FM 1171 project along I-35W is unclear from available records.
What's next
Denton County's population now sits at an estimated 1.1 million, and the breakout strategy signals the Commissioners Court intends to keep funding interim fixes rather than wait on TxDOT's multi-year timelines. Residents can contact Edmondson's office at 972-434-3960 or [email protected]. As we reported Aug. 14, the county's budget season kicks off with a presentation Tuesday, Aug. 18, and a public hearing Sept. 22.
