City Celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Extension Opening
Published on April 17, 2026
By the Office of Communication
Getting around southeast Arlington just got easier. The newly opened Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive extension provides another north-south route over Interstate 20, easing congestion on major corridors like Matlock Road and Collins Street while opening the door to new development and improved neighborhood access.
This project represents the City’s first major roadway extension since 2013, signaling continued investment in Arlington’s future. The new four-lane, 1.18-mile extension from Bardin Road to Green Oaks Boulevard is expected to shift approximately 2,000 vehicles per day off Matlock Road in the near term, reducing traffic by about 5 percent. Long-term reductions on Matlock Road could reach up to 10 percent, with additional relief anticipated along Collins Street and surrounding roadways.
Beyond traffic improvements, the extension plays a key role in shaping Arlington’s future growth. By opening access to previously underutilized land near the Arlington Municipal Airport, the project creates new opportunities for private investment, commercial development and job creation. Modern infrastructure like this roadway lays the foundation for long-term economic vitality and a stronger local economy.
The new roadway also enhances everyday connectivity for nearby neighborhoods. A new connection to Embercrest Drive improves access for families traveling to local schools and to community destinations like Bob McFarland Park. Pedestrians and cyclists benefit as well, with the addition of a shared-use trail, sidewalks and ADA-compliant ramps. The project also features a storm drainage system, water and sanitary sewer upgrades, traffic signals, streetlights and landscaping enhancements.
“It is rare that we are able to construct a new roadway in a green field and connect neighborhoods where there was no connection. Delivering another north and south corridor that provides some traffic relief to both Matlock Road and Collins Street and being able to provide this valuable regional mobility improvement for our citizens and businesses is truly rewarding and something we are very proud of,” said Keith Brooks, Arlington’s Director of Public Works.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Drive extension was approved by City of Arlington voters and funded through the City’s 2014 Bond Program, the Tarrant County 2021 Transportation Bond Program and federal funding through the North Central Texas Council of Governments’ Surface Transportation Block Grant.
The MLK Jr. Drive extension continues Arlington’s momentum in delivering impactful transportation projects in southeast Arlington. It follows other major investments such as the opening of the Center Street bridge over I-20 in 2017, the completion of Turner Warnell Road improvements in 2025 and the completion of Debbie Lane improvements this summer. These projects, along with the start of the Mansfield Webb Road widening project from Silo Road to Collins Street this spring, are transforming how residents move throughout the area.
To learn more about voter-approved projects from the 2014, 2018 and 2023 Bond Elections, visit the Bond Tracker. For current construction projects, visit the Project Tracker webpage.