Money from a variety of sources has been lined up to pay for all three new "signature" freeway bridges over the Dallas Trinity River, County Judge Clay Jenkins said Thursday.
The first bridge designed by famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is under construction now to extend Woodall Rodgers Freeway over the river from downtown to West Dallas.
The next two will be replacements for the Interstate 30 and Interstate 35E bridges.
Earlier this year, Texas Department of Transportation officials said the I-30 and I-35E bridges urgently need to be rebuilt. Transportation officials said the replacements could not wait until money enough was available to make them more expensive "signature" bridges.
But Jenkins said a total of $853 million is now available from federal, state and local sources.
"It's a partnership, and this is an example of what we can do when we work together," Jenkins said.
Calatrava is working on a less expensive design for the I-30 bridge.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
Jenkins said Calatrava will not design the I-35E bridge as the architect once envisioned, but the money available now will still provide for some dressier features in the construction of that bridge as well.
Years ago, Dallas leaders proposed the "signature" bridges to add a new attractive element to the city's skyline.
The Woodall Rodgers bridge is scheduled to open early next year.
