Collin County is studying a proposed new north-south freeway that could link State Highway 121 south of Westminster to the future U.S. 380 bypass as it loops north of Princeton.
“As growth and development continue to push north and east, transportation improvements will be needed to accommodate the increasing population,” the county said in its FAQs.
The Collin County Northeast Freeway (CCNEF) is in the preliminary engineering and environmental study phase of project development. The current study began in the summer of 2025 and is expected to last two years. No route has yet been identified but the county is seeking to preserve a possible corridor that would be needed for the freeway.
A second public meeting on the proposed project will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, in the cafeteria of Clark Middle School, 321 Panther Parkway. A preferred alignment may be announced at that time.
The first meeting was held Dec. 11, 2025, in the Princeton Senior High School Cafeteria, with about 74 people attending in person. The county said the virtual meeting had 1,215 unique visits.
Connectivity to SH 121 is being considered at three locations including the FM 455 and FM 2862 interchanges and a proposed thoroughfare midway between these locations.
Connectivity to the future U.S. 380 Princeton freeway is being considered at three locations including a new proposed
interchange near Dowlin Parkway, FM 75 and a location east of FM 75.
The Northeast Freeway is separate from the Collin County Outer Loop — a planned 55-mile multi-modal roadway ultimately stretching from the Denton/Collin County Line through cities including Celina, Weston, Anna, Melissa, Farmersville, Josephine
and Royse City, ending at the Rockwall/Collin County Line.
Following the completion of this environmental study and schematic design, the county would determine when to begin final design, the development of detailed construction plans and cost estimates and the acquisition of right-of-way.
Utility coordination would occur throughout the schematic and final design, with utility relocations, where needed, occurring prior to the start of roadway construction.
The public may submit comments on the study from Aug. 6 through Sept. 8. Comments may be provided in person at the meeting, online at collincountynortheastfreeway.com, by email to [email protected], by voicemail at 945-766-0817, or by mail to Project Team, Attn: Jillian North, 4500 Mercantile Plaza Drive, Suite 230, Fort Worth, TX 76137.
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