Denton County officials approved a little over $12.5 million for two local transportation projects to enhance mobility for area residents Jan 30.

What’s happening: One of those is what officials call a “breakout project.” It’s work pulled out from the broader widening of FM 407 led by the Texas Department of Transportation, and focuses on the intersection at FM 407 and I-35W, which will involve adding a right-turn lane to FM 407 and the I-35W access road, respectively, on the west side of the intersection. Other improvements included in the $3.03 million project are adding drainage, updating pavement markings and updating vehicle deflection walls at the FM 407 overpass for I-35W.

Dianne Edmondson, Denton County Precinct 4 commissioner, said the project should help with the broader widening of FM 407 from four to six lanes from Bill Cook Road to FM 1830 in Argyle, which could get environmental clearance in June.

Yellow Brick Road Boat and Vehicle Storage on Old Justin Road in Argyle will open its first 50 units this spring, owner Brad Mann said.

The overview: The storage facility will accommodate storage for boats, RVs and cars, and units will feature vehicle lifts.

The facility will offer a total of 150 storage units with the remaining 100 units opening in late 2026, Mann said.

• 1303 Old Justin Road, Argyle

Stay informed on road projects happening around Dallas-Fort Worth, including highway projects in Denton County and construction on Eldorado Parkway in McKinney. 

Plano bridge repairs 
Project: Repairs to 29 bridges in Plano will address the surface of the bridges, including the deck and railings, as well as possible damage to structures underneath the bridges from wear and erosion.
Update: Work on the first bridge to be repaired, Custer Road at Spring Creek, began March 2.

• Timeline: work anticipated to be completed by spring 2027
• Cost: $4.2 million
• Funding source: city of Plano

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: $260.7 million
• Funding source: TxDOT

On a 25-acre park in Waxahachie, hundreds of actors and artisans will bring to life a 16th-century English village over eight weekends in spring, complete with jousting, feasts and Scarborough Castle.

Scarborough Renaissance Festival, one of the oldest and largest renaissance festivals in the nation, celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, providing immersive entertainment from April 4-May 25.

The overview: Visitors will have the opportunity to watch jousts and other entertainment on the festival’s 20 stages, explore games and rides, shop handmade goods, and eat and drink at the variety of restaurants, pubs and taverns. Around 100 cast members bring the festival to life, interacting with guests as villagers, nobles, performers and other characters to create what Assistant Entertainment Director Janna Zepp calls “interpersonal magic.”

How we got here: Although the festival has evolved over the years—additions include sit-down restaurants, ticket scanners and modern restrooms—Zepp said that interpersonal magic between actors and guests remains a constant.

“The moment you walk in the gate, you just feel the joy and the celebration," Zepp said.

The inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington and the NTT IndyCar Series race was held in front of a sellout crowd March 15.

What happened: The event, with the backdrops of AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium, sold out the grandstand and had a standing-room-only crowd through the Arlington Entertainment District, according to a news release.

According to officials, ticket sales spanned all 50 states and 20 different countries. In addition, its merchandise sales were the most for a non-Indianapolis 500 event.

The details: The event was announced in 2024 through a partnership with the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, REV Entertainment and Penske Entertainment.

The Grand Marshals were Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez, a former Texas Rangers catcher and DeMarcus Ware, a former defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys.