130 Years of Transportation: The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike
Freese and Nichols has been a pioneer in designing roads, highways, and bridges since the 1890s. Our legacy continues as we collaborate with transportation agencies, cities, and counties to deliver innovative and effective solutions. Our multidisciplinary team, led by experienced project managers, includes experts in transportation planning, traffic engineering, roadway design, utility engineering, environmental science, and construction management. This rich history and our coordinated, streamlined approach continue to bring visionary transportation projects, like the historic Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike, to life, meeting the ever-evolving needs of our communities.
A Legacy of Innovation
In the 1950s, the rapid expansion of Texas cities created an urgent need for urban expressways to facilitate the movement of workers and shoppers. Rather than wait until state finances permit construction of freeways everywhere needed, drivers in major cities were willing to pay tolls to have the convenience of the expressway. On August 26, 1953, the legislature created a nine-member Texas Turnpike Authority to build toll roads to relieve the most acute traffic trouble spots.
To participate in the design and construction supervision of various facilities comprising the six-lane, 30-mile highway, including bridges, overpasses, toll booths and administrative buildings, the Authority engaged a partnership of Fort Worth-Dallas consultants operating under Turnpike Engineers. The joint venture included Freese and Nichols, Forrest & Cotton, Powell & Powell and Joe J. Rady & Company.
To finance the expressway, the Authority got the go-ahead from the Texas Supreme Court in 1955 to sell a $58 million bond issue. Paving began in July 1956, and the road opened in 1957. Freese and Nichols’ principal participation in the Turnpike project was the design of 42 bridges over major streams, railroads, streets and highways. The firm also did paving and drainage work. The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike is known as I-30 today.