The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing to improve US 380 from FM 1827 to CR 560 in Collin County, primarily by building a new-location freeway that loops north of Princeton and reconnects to existing US 380 near Lake Lavon.
The goal is to transition this stretch of US 380 toward a controlled-access freeway facility that can better handle current and future traffic, rather than continuing as a signalized surface highway.
What Is Being Built
• A new-location, controlled-access freeway will be built north of the City of Princeton, roughly from west of CR 337 to east of CR 458, where it will tie back into the existing corridor.
• The project length is approximately 11.8 miles, or about 12 miles, from FM 1827 to CR 560.
• The concept is an eight-lane controlled-access freeway with continuous two- to three-lane, one-way frontage roads. The number of mainlanes may vary from 8 to 10 depending on the location.
• 10-foot shared-use paths are planned on both sides of the corridor for walking and biking.
• The project also reconstructs and widens existing US 380 from FM 1827 to west of CR 337, and from east of CR 458 across Lavon Lake to CR 560.
This is not just a basic widening of the current road. In several areas, it is a completely new alignment that would function as a real freeway with limited driveways and intersections, higher travel speeds, and stronger separation between local traffic and through traffic.
Why TxDOT Is Doing This
• The current US 380 does not meet modern freeway standards.
• Traffic has grown rapidly alongside Collin County’s population boom and is expected to continue increasing.
• TxDOT’s stated goals are to reduce congestion, improve safety, and prepare for long-term east-west traffic demand.
Where The Project Stands
• TxDOT completed the Environmental Assessment and posted a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on January 6, 2025, allowing the project to move beyond environmental clearance.
• The project remains in the development and design phase. Public meetings and hearings have already been held.
• TxDOT’s public hearing materials state that the project is currently unfunded for construction and cannot proceed to construction letting until funding is identified, although right-of-way work may still move forward.
• Next steps include final design work, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and phased construction if and when funding becomes available.
Property and Right of Way
• Because much of the freeway will follow a new alignment, TxDOT will need significant additional right-of-way.
• Some properties will be affected. TxDOT materials state that additional right-of-way is required and that displacements are anticipated, depending on final design.
• Approximately 396 acres of new right-of-way are expected to be needed.
TxDOT’s right-of-way process generally includes appraisals, purchase offers, and relocation assistance where required by law.
What It Will Look Like On The Ground
When built, this section of US 380 is expected to include:
• 8 to 10 mainlanes, depending on the segment, for higher-speed travel
• Continuous two- to three-lane, one-way frontage roads for local access
• 10-foot shared-use paths on both sides
In practical terms, this would move US 380 in this area away from a congested highway with traffic lights and toward a full urban-style freeway corridor, similar to how other major Texas routes are built.
Why This Matters for Princeton
This project could reshape how Princeton functions for decades.
A new freeway alignment north of the city would affect:
• how local residents move east and west
• how traffic is divided between local access roads and regional through traffic
• where future commercial and residential growth concentrates
• how land values and development patterns evolve along both the current and future corridors
It is one of the most important long-term infrastructure projects affecting Princeton’s future.
