Sep 5, 2008 | 5:38 AM
Category:
Traffic
I know this goes without saying, but there's been a ton of work done on Central the last couple of years. Still, the traffic jams up on a daily basis going up through Allen into Plano and that trouble can be traced to the on and off ramps around Bethany. Well, TxDOT believes they can rectify the situation with a little tweak.
Starting Monday, TxDOT crews will start an eight-month, $1.6 million ramp reversal project at southbound 75 and Bethany Drive in Allen. Sounds crazy, but it just might work! Here's what you need to know: The entrance ramp at Bethany will be closed starting Monday. Later, the Frontage Road exit ramp will be closed. The project is expected to be completed in April 2009....oh and there will be message boards along the project to guide you through.
So what do you think? Will the reversal help? Or will it add confusion to the congestion?
Sep 4, 2008 | 5:46 AM
Category:
Traffic
I've had a couple of emails lately regarding the roadwork going on in Waxahachie along Mustang Road and FM 878. The traffic flow there about a mile and a half east of US 287 is down to one lane on FM 878 and that will continue to be the case until mid April of next year. Now your in the know....before you go!
Aug 27, 2008 | 8:02 AM
Category:
Traffic
The Labor Day holiday is fast approaching and with is comes a welcome change for folks in Collin and Denton County.....and "change" is the key word in more ways than one! Starting Sunday, the new section of the 121 Tollway will be available from Hillcrest to the east all the way over through The Colony to the existing 121 Tollway that extends into Lewisville. It's been a long time coming and now the question is this? Will you pay to use the new concrete?
Aug 26, 2008 | 5:01 PM
Category:
Traffic
It happens about a half dozen times a year and each time it befuddles me how it could happen. Here's a newswriter snippit of the latest incident this afternoon:
A DART TRAIN HIT A CAR DURING THE NOON RUSH IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS.
IT HAPPENED NEAR THE FOX 4 STUDIOS AT NORTH GRIFFIN STREET AND PACIFIC AVENUE.
WITNESSES SAY THE TRAIN WAS GOING NORTH AND THE CAR MADE A WIDE RIGHT TURN INTO THE TRAIN.
THE DRIVER OF THE CAR GOT OUT O-K.
HE DID NOT WANT TO TALK.... BUT A PASSENGER ON THE TRAIN DESCRIBED THE EXPERIENCE AS NERVE-WRACKING.
I bet he did. This goes without saying but please PLEASE never try to beat a train!
Aug 26, 2008 | 8:13 AM
Category:
Traffic
Construction crews assigned to building the extension of Woodall Rodgers over to I-30 can't buy a break. The project is way behind schedule (no fault of theirs) and to make matters worse, a "must have" part of the Trinity River project might be delayed as well. If you missed it on Good Day this morning, here's the rest of the story:
AN ITALIAN COMPANY IS BEHIND SCHEDULE... DELIVERING STEEL FOR THE "MARGARET HUNT HILL BRIDGE."
THE BRIDGE IS ONE OF THE MOST VISIBLE PARTS OF THE PLANS FOR THE TRINITY.
THE DELAY WILL PUT THE BRIDGE ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND ITS SCHEDULED COMPLETION DATE ... OF MID 2010.
So what do you think? Will these bridges ever be built?
Aug 25, 2008 | 5:39 AM
Category:
Traffic
For everyone that is except you kiddos in Denton County. Enjoy your last day of summer while you can! For the adults out there please remember that 20 MPH means 20 MPH!!! There will be a higher number of officers out and about today and throughout this first week of school in those zones just to make sure drivers remember. To the scholars: Have a great school year and remember "study study books are your buddy!"
**an addendum - some lug nut was arrested in The Colony for going over 50 in a 20. Now that's rediculous!!!
Aug 22, 2008 | 4:15 PM
Category:
Traffic
....unless you have tickets to the Cowboys/Texans game tonight. As of 4:15 pm, traffic is already heavy on 183 coming out of Dallas. Also make this note if you have Ranger tickets this weekend and you live west of the stadium: I-30 eastbound will be down to one lane starting tonight through the weekend as the "three bridges" project continues to take shape. Have a great weekend!
Aug 21, 2008 | 6:42 AM
Category:
Traffic
Just in case you missed it this morning on Good Day, construction starts today on the last leg of the George Bush Turnpike. When finished, the road will link I-30 up to its current termination point around the Firewheel Town Center. I know what you're thinking. How long will it take to complete the task? As far as road projects are concerned...not too bad. The new part of the GBT should be open in 2011.
Aug 19, 2008 | 4:42 PM
Category:
Traffic
An aggressive announcement regarding the widening of I-35E. If all goes well in the planning stage (which by the way will include toll roads), the main cooridor between Dallas and Denton County will be widened by 50%!! Unfortunately, the term "aggressive" has a different meaning to TxDot. Roadwork would begin in two years and the estimated finish date wouldn't be until 2017.
Aug 19, 2008 | 5:47 AM
Category:
Traffic
A wreck yesterday morning involving two big rigs along I-20 just past FM 47 is still taking its toll on folks that take I-20 eastbound on a daily basis. The freeway will continue to be closed at exit 519 due to the bridge damage and engineers are still assessing the structural damage done to the overpass. Best case scenario? An emergency contracting crew will be able to fix the support in a week or two....but if the dammage is more significant....well.....suffices to sayu it could be a LOOOOOOONG time before all is normal again. For now, consider taking Highway 80 as an alternate route.
Aug 18, 2008 | 5:53 PM
Category:
Traffic
First an unofficial vote made the name Cezar Chavez Blvd. as the new name for Industrial Blvd; but Dallas City Council really wanted a different name. Then an idea to rename Ross Ave. for Chavez became a possibility. Now it's the Dallas North Tollway that might receive the name change. So what do you think? Which road should be renamed for the latino labor leader?
Aug 18, 2008 | 7:00 AM
Category:
Traffic
Howdy ya'll! It's great to be back in big "D" after a week on the beach in Sandestin, Florida. My new nickname around the station is lobster boy!
Now onto the traffic front.....please keep in mind that I-20 is shut down at Turner-Hayden in Van Zandt County due to a wreck involving a couple of 18 wheelers. It will be several more hours before the road is open in the eastbound direction.
Aug 8, 2008 | 10:02 AM
Category:
Traffic
My dad sent me this as he thought I would find it interesting. What do you think?
Heads up everyone! ... Husbands, wives, kids, everyone!!! Please, keep this circulating... You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into Reverse. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So, you shift into Park, unlo ck you r doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of you r car, that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money, and your keys.
Your home and your whole identity are now compromised! BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED
If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later.
Aug 8, 2008 | 8:47 AM
Category:
Traffic
.....is just that. Dirt! A dump truck inadvertently jettisoned the iron-rich soil in the right two lanes heading westbound and only the left lane is getting by. The incident happened just after 8 this morning (8/8) and it looks like the cleanup process won't happen any time soon. As of 8:45, there were no cleanup vehicles on the scene.
Aug 7, 2008 | 8:02 AM
Category:
Traffic
I haven't had the pleasure of fishing at Richland Chambers Lake lately, but the next time I'm there I look forward to seeing a better transition between US 287 and I-45. In about six weeks, 287 should be done! Until then, only one lane is available in bosh directions. BTW - the re-open date is officially slated for September 16th.
