Both sides of Interstate 30 in Arlington are open earlier than expected following the removal of a State Highway 360 frontage road bridge, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
The eastbound and westbound sides of I-30 between Collins Street and President George Bush Turnpike were scheduled to be closed until 5 a.m. Monday, but reopened just after 7 p.m. Saturday.
During the closure, TxDOT encouraged people to avoid the area altogether and take State Highway 183 or Interstate 20 instead.
TX-DOT IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TAKE 183 OR I-20 INSTEAD.
TX-DOT IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TAKE 183 OR I-20 INSTEAD.
"My reaction is that’s bananas because it's how I get to and from work," said Paulette Germany, owner of Loc Star Salon at I-30 and Collins. "And then the majority of our clients are coming from Dallas and they use 30 to get here."
Germany is excited about the benefits of the project in the long run, but knows there will be plenty of headaches along the way.
"It’s going to be a big effect because this is the entertainment district down here in Arlington and pretty much the hub between Dallas and Fort Worth," Germany said.
“We’ve been getting notifications from TxDOT through emails. I know all the closures and detours,” said Fay Davis, who works at Image-360 which sits along I-30.
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Davis has a front row seat to the construction and its progress.
“You’ve got to take it in stride," she said. "You can’t construct a highway with cars on it. So you’ve got to shut it down to make bigger roads. You always don’t have the land available to start a brand new road without impacting existing traffic.”
The $233 million I-30/360 interchange project will transform the original 1950s Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike cloverleaf design into a modern, fully-directional interchange with connection ramps for all movements between I-30 and 360. TxDOT says the improvements to the area will increase safety, connectivity and mobility for motorists.
"We’re modernizing the crossroads of the Metroplex," said Val Lopez, Public Information Officer for the Fort Worth District of TxDOT. "People either go there to play or go through there to get somewhere or get to Arlington. This is a very heavily-traveled route. We know it’s heavily-used and the region decided that it was time to modernize this interchange and that’s what we’re doing."
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