Iconic Interstate 20 Texas Flag Installation Removed
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Texas Department of Transportation crews finished removing a Texas flag installation from a hill along Interstate 20 between Mountain Creek Parkway and Spur 408.
Texas Department of Transportation crews finished removing the colorful state of Texas outline on the Interstate 20 median in far southwest Dallas on Tuesday.
TxDOT removed the installation over safety concerns where drivers were entering and exiting the freeway without a ramp.
Over the years, the feature had become such a popular attraction for photos that drivers carved a dirt pathway into the grassy area between Mountain Creek Parkway and Spur 408, ignoring several "Keep Off Median" signs on the highway's shoulder.
Most challenging for visitors with the current arrangement is getting back on the interstate from the bumpy median shoulder without causing a crash or posing a hazard to drivers on the freeway.
The paneling around the emblem was removed Monday afternoon. The brightly-turf that makes up the flag will be taken away on Tuesday.
The colorful state of Texas outline on the Interstate 20 median in far southwest Dallas is being removed Monday.
The installation will be turned over to the city of Grand Prairie, though what will happen to it after that remains a mystery. City spokesperson Amy Sprinkles said the installation will be kept in a city storage facility until they find it a permanent home.
The display was built in 2010 as a Boy Scouts project, according to Ryan LaFontaine with the Texas Department of Transportation.
LaFontaine said activity has increased so much in the last several months that TxDot had no choice but to take action.
"We understand this emblem has been a source of pride for North Texans and all Texans for a long time now so we don’t want to take it away, we want to find a safe location so people can access this," LaFontaine said.
The Texas Department of Transportation regrets allowing the popular Texas state symbol in the I-20 median in far southwest Dallas and refuses to install a rest area there because of safety concerns.
Fans of the installation suggested the state turn the area into a rest area with proper exits and entrances. LaFontaine said TxDOT does not build rest areas in medians with center lane access because of safety concerns.
The Dallas County Sheriff's Department is responsible for traffic enforcement on the interstate and Dallas police are responsible for law enforcement on the median. Information requests to both resulted in no records of significant accident history or ticket writing at the location.
Morris Jett
State of Texas on Eastbound I-20 between Mountain Creek Parkway and Spur 408
Even so, LaFontaine said the area is just too dangerous for drivers.
On Monday, NBC 5 viewers were polled about the removal of the installation. In total, 24,036 people voted in the poll--18 percent wanted it moved somewhere else, 80 percent voted to keep it where it was and two percent wanted it removed all together.
Brian Rodriguez
Texas on I-20 Here is my shot of the Iconic Texas Sate symbol. It will be greatly missed :( Brian Rodriguez
Bria Molock
TVCC Cardettes Deep in the heart of Texas
Jason Clay
Texas symbol
Suzann Haas
Bluebonnet pictues at the Texas Flag on I20re Every Good Friday I take my granddaughters to this site for the annual pictures, then I proceed on I20 to take Blue Bonnet photos. Hopefully GR wqill place this someplace that they deem safer - I personally have never had any issue getting in or out of this location and in 2015 one of the tv stations was there and actually was doing a segment which showed a lot of people taking photos - including my girls.
Marie Ruiz
A PIC OF US AT THE TEXAS SYMBOL OFF 20 This is me (Marie) and my boyfriend (Danny) a year ago at the Texas symbol off 20. So glad we got to take a picture while we can! So sad they're taking it down.
Priscilla
Family photos
Cynthia Espinoza
Photo by the Texas sign
Cynthia Espinoza
Photo by the Texas sign
Jessica Flores
Victoria Age 4 April 7, 2013
Eli Rodriguez
Eli Rodriguez Deep in the heart of Texas!
Jessica Flores
Patrick Julianna Carrolina and Victoria April 7, 2013
Heather McCarty
Family Love
Camile Jackson
Texas Twins Dallas and Austin Jackson
Adriana Camarillo
My mazda last year! I'm very sad that it';s going to be removed. I think it's one of the most cool things Dallas has! :) -- Thank you Adriana Camarillo
Lance Pharis
Texas Jeep
Miranda floyd
South Grand Prairie Prom
Tarena Gibbs
Tx icon Tx icon on 408 spur
Rose Lopez
Lopez-Wright Children Dev, My & Eli
Tina ray
Me standing on the state of Texas a few years back Loving me sum texas
Jermaine T King
Family and Friends Me, wife and kids and their God Parents
Charlie Taylor
I-20 Texas
Diana Rodriguez
Texas Sign Daddy and Gabriel
Amberly Perkins
Texas symbol on Interstate 20 Me and my baby boy Braxton were able to stop and get a picture last summer
Stephanie Garza
Kiddos My kids
Judith
Beautiful Day
Rehescreative.com
State of Texas It will be missed !!!
Shan Salter
A YES as BIG AS TEXAS
Vanessa Candela
Texas State Symbol A must!
Kayla Dresco
Iconic Texas Symbol My girlfriend and I have many memories at this iconic Texas Symbol. Funniest story is we finally decided to stop one day and locked ourselves out of our car. While we waited on help we decided to go take more pics. We will always remember
Travis
I20 Texas landmark Landmark photo op!
fernandez_deanna
Pics of state of Texas outline We took these pictures in June.
fernandez_deanna
Pics of state of Texas outline We took these pictures in June.
Rehescreative.com
I20 texas state pictures
Rehescreative.com
I20 texas state pictures
fernandez_deanna
Pics of state of Texas outline We took these pictures in June.
fernandez_deanna
Pics of state of Texas outline We took these pictures in June.
Obon Jones
1-20 Landmark will be miss The sign reminds me of home and I would come home once a year. This is a picture of my Daughter's first trip to my home to Dallas in 2011.
Teresa Turpin
Thumbs up to TX
carolynstreett15
Texas on I20 pictures
carolynstreett15
Texas on I20 pictures
carolynstreett15
Texas on I20 pictures
Marisol Fernandez
Deep in the heart of Texas Me laying on the Texas that was removed.
NBC 5's Frank Heinz and Ken Kalthoff contributed to this report.
