Chisholm Trail Parkway, a limited-access toll road in southwest Tarrant and northwest Johnson County, is under construction. The toll road will extend from Fort Worth’s central business district to southwest Fort Worth, continuing south to Cleburne, providing an alternate north-south route for Interstate Highway 35W. Section 5 of Chisholm Trail Parkway is a new roadway location traversing natural grasslands, streams and wetlands, extending 5.8 miles from Dirks Road south to FM 1187.

VRX is the resident engineer, providing construction management and inspection services, including electrical inspection. In this role, VRX reviews the contractor’s monthly schedule and pay estimates, monitors the monthly project budget, prepares change orders, coordinates with the materials testing lab to request required materials testing and maintains project records.

VRX is also providing environmental quality oversight and inspection services. In this role, VRX is responsible for contractor oversight to verify compliance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations. Specific responsibilities include verifying compliance with the USACE Section 404 (Clean Water Act) permit authorization and impact limits; conducting weekly storm water pollution prevention plan inspections and contractor coordination to correct deficient items; conducting active migratory bird nests surveys prior to right-of-way clearing during the breeding season; and verifying proper handling and disposal of contaminated materials.

Close coordination with 14 utility companies as well as with the TxDOT, NTTA, City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Fort Worth Western Railroad, contractors adjacent to the corridor, two major schools and residents along the corridor is required due to the extensive utility relocations. The project has two million cubic yards of embankment and crosses multiple flood plains, requires close attention to environmental issues, ranging from impacts to the waters of the U.S. to nesting migratory birds. Two bridges are being built over the Fort Worth Western Railroad, requiring continual coordination with the railroad and abiding by their regulations.

When complete, the State Highway 121/Southwest Parkway project will be a four- to six-lane divided toll road extending for approximately 14 miles, from I-30 to FM 1187. It will connect with a 13-mile project in Johnson County from FM 1187 to US 67 in Cleburne, also known as Chisholm Trail Parkway.