[5] However, the planned 4,500-foot (1,400 m) long primary north-south runway would sever Keller Springs Road, a controversial proposal requiring negotiations with the Dallas County Commissioner's Court and city officials.

[9] In 1991, the Texas Turnpike Authority (NTTA's predecessor) conducted a preliminary study for a tunnel connecting the segments.

[10][11] Dallas County contributed $3 million to purchase the right-of-way, but the project did not proceed further due to high cost.

[1] The tunnel was mined through the Austin Chalk underlying the airport by a roadheader, a large rock cutting machine that was nicknamed "Big Mike," at a rate of 20 feet (6 m) per day.

[9] In 2007, NTTA announced the removal of its toll booths (both manned and coin-operated) at all of its facilities by 2010 in favor of a pay-by-mail system.