AUSTIN, Texas – On Monday, Feb 15, 2010, the construction process began on the "DFW Connector," a stretch of highway running through Grapevine and Southlake, Texas. The project should reduce peak hour traffic commute times and introduce a highly anticipated economic boost to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Texas engineering firms such as pavement designers The Transtec Group, Inc, from Austin have been chosen by builder NorthGate Constructors to support the $1.02 billion design/build project.

Transtec will be responsible for the design of all pavements included in the massive 8.4-mile project. Selected for their history of efficient and ground-breaking pavement design and research, Transtec will implement new and innovative pavement alternatives that are cost-effective and sustainable. The Texas firm delivers useful and comprehensive solutions for pavement design, making it an industry leader.

"Designing pavement is our expertise, which means we can deliver a pavement that will cost less to build and last much longer," Transtec President Dan Rozycki said. "We've been reducing the cost of highway construction all over the world for 17 years, so it's exciting to do a TxDOT project here in our home state."

Construction on the DFW Connector officially begins this week and should be completed in four years. The project will build up to 24 lanes in select locations, including four managed lanes that are designed to keep traffic moving at average speeds of 50 miles per hour through the use of variable tolls. In addition to providing a more reliable trip, the project will ensure both safer travel for motorists and lower hazardous vehicle emissions for the environment.