Hillcrest Road to re open after 52 week closure for DART Silver Line work

A portion of Hillcrest Road that has been closed 52 weeks for continued construction of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Silver Line Regional Rail project will re-open Thursday, Jan. 23, to commuters traveling through North Dallas.

DART and the City of Dallas agreed to close a 1/5-mile stretch of Hillcrest Road on Jan. 25, 2024, as crews built a new section of roadway underneath a raised rail guideway for the Silver Line. The closure, which included no access to Hillcrest Road between McCallum Boulevard and Wester Way, was made to ensure maximum safety for the public and construction crews in the highly populated area.

Hillcrest Road will open with one lane of traffic in each direction in the inside lanes before resuming to multiple lanes at McCallum to the north and Wester Way to the south. Medians will separate the open lanes with a strict 25-mph speed limit enforced.

"We appreciate the understanding that the residents and daily commuters in this area have shown us as we've worked to advance the work on Hillcrest Road," said Trey Walker, DART vice president of construction and capital projects. "The goal was to get the construction done as safely and efficiently as possible. We've accomplished that and trust drivers will enjoy the new roadway while Silver Line passengers will enjoy the new rail service."

With major construction primarily complete, DART will alert drivers of any upcoming changes with digital road signs and will continue providing updates to nearby cities who may have commuters that frequent the area. Pedestrians will have access to a designated temporary walkway on the eastside of the roadway barrier wall. The fully constructed sidewalk is expected to open in February.

The closure is near the City of Richardson border and encompasses a portion of Plano ISD, so DART maintained consistent communication with both regarding construction updates and safety measures. Dallas Police and Dallas Fire Rescue, which provide emergency services to the area, were also kept informed on construction progress and assured access to restricted areas, if needed, in case of emergency.

Crews excavated down through almost 18 feet of rock and dirt to construct the new portion of Hillcrest Road that will take drivers underneath a Silver Line rail bridge. A pump station, to relieve excess water from the roadway during heavy rains, was added as part of the design, while runners, walkers, and cyclists will benefit from a newly constructed pedestrian bridge that was built adjacent to the new rail bridge. The pedestrian bridge is part of the Cotton Belt Regional Trail, a North Central Texas Council of Governments project being constructed alongside most of the Silver Line's 26 miles of track.

The DART Silver Line is a 26-mile commuter rail that crosses seven cities (Grapevine, Coppell, Dallas, Carrollton, Addison, Richardson, Plano) and three counties, while connecting riders from East Plano to DFW Airport's Terminal B and several stops in between. Once operating, later this year to early 2026, the rail service aims to improve mobility and accessibility across the northern portion of the DART service area.

To learn more about the Silver Line Regional Rail Project, please visit dart.org/silverline.