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DFW Projects Thread

Started by austrini, July 06, 2009, 04:12:16 PM

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longhorn

Quote from: Bobby5280 on April 30, 2017, 05:58:32 PM
While I like the additional lanes and traffic capacity the Horseshoe project is adding to the mix-master I'm not a fan of the bridge pier design. I don't know what it is, but the rounded design on those support columns and lack of any decorative touches just makes it all look very bland. It makes me think of plastic fixtures in a shower. I suppose this is an "upgrade" from the plain but angular piers on other DFW interchanges like I-820 & TX-183, but it's a big step down from decorative bridge piers like the ones in the High Five Interchange (I-635 & US-75).

It's the bland white color. They did the same with the new Terminal D at DFW. The rest of the airport is in earth tone colors. TxDot should have used earth tone colors.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8792579,-96.8978619,3a,60y,174.49h,86.38t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seN7G2zWsJW0nc-wEtJ_14A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Amazing what a little color will do even on the blocky standard design

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.9104036,-96.8852851,3a,75y,227.82h,92.02t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smpKGUQPok_4Y1qIKMYm8lw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=enf

Do not get Dallas's fascination with white lately.


AsphaltPlanet

Video of I-35E through the Horseshoe Project (and beyond)

AsphaltPlanet.ca  Youtube -- Opinions expressed reflect the viewpoints of others.

US-175

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2017/05/04/txdot-awards-balfour-beatty-fluor-corp-625m.html

More on the Southern Gateway (I-35E and US 67 south of downtown Dallas) contract going to Fluor/Balfour Beatty.  The project is to begin late this year and be done by 2021.

MaxConcrete

#378
I took these photos April 8 but only recently was able to process the photos.

The IH 35E collector-distrubutors between Bush/190 and SH 121 opened in early April. My observation: this is a huge improvement, virtually eliminating the chronic congestion in this area.

http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/i35e-north/construction/20170408_09-0120-2560.jpg
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/i35e-north/construction/20170408_09-0126-2560.jpg

SH 121 north of DFW airport is *finally* on the new concrete. But (as of April) it was still only two lanes each way due to work at the transition zones at both ends of the project. This project has been taking a ridiculously long time. It will be 5x5 when complete.

http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20170408_09-0325-2560.jpg

The interchange at IH 35E and SH 121 is nearing completion. With its long, high-flying ramps, it will be the second most impressive interchange in North Texas (after the High Five)



http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/i35e-north/construction/20170408_09-0090-2560.jpg
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/i35e-north/construction/20170408_09-0076-2560.jpg

Work was proceeding quickly on the new section of US 175

http://www.dfwfreeways.com/us175/construction

The connection ramps at SH 183 and Loop 12 have made substantial progress toward completion

http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/sh183/construction/20170408_09-0156-2560.jpg

Work is proceeding quickly on the IH 30/SH 360 interchange, with a small forest of piers in place.The contractor is keeping a good collection of progress photos https://www.keep30360moving.org/images/

http://www.dfwfreeways.com/i30-landry/construction-360

The two Panther Island bridges in Fort Worth are progressing with forms in place for the V-shaped piers. These will be expensive bridges over land until the new diversion canal is built, which may not be anytime soon.

http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20170408_09-0239-3000.jpg


http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/AARoads/20170408_09-0242-3000.jpg

Other observations (no photos)
* SH 183 in Irving is now proceeding rapidly with major progress
* There is steady progress on IH 35W in north Fort Worth, but not much difference from the photos I posted in November http://www.dfwfreeways.com/i35w/construction-2016-nov

* The Horseshoe project in downtown Dallas is nearly complete
* Work is well underway on the expansion of the SH 360/SH 121 interchange on the northwest side of DFW airport

www.DFWFreeways.com
www.HoustonFreeways.com

compdude787

So the flyover ramps on the I-35E/ SH-121 interchange are just going to be drab grey like that? Whatever happened to TxDOT making their bridge structures be aesthetically pleasing?

aboges26

Quote from: compdude787 on June 15, 2017, 12:22:58 AM
So the flyover ramps on the I-35E/ SH-121 interchange are just going to be drab grey like that? Whatever happened to TxDOT making their bridge structures be aesthetically pleasing?

Not necessarily, as far as I know it is up to the contractor as to when to do the paint job.  For example, in the Lubbock district the new freeway overpasses and retaining walls have been the last thing done on the new construction projects.

compdude787

Okay, good. I was worried that TX was slacking off in the looks department when it comes to their interchanges.

Chris

What is the progress of the I-35W expansion north of Fort Worth? According to the TxDOT project tracker, the I-820 to US 81/287 split segment has an estimated completion date of June 30.

RoadSigma

Well I commute 35W from Burleson(South FW) to North Ft Worth every day and north of the 820 interchange on the northside they have signed it up and are VERY close to opening the tolled lanes. Between Downtown and 820 there is still at least a yr to 2 yrs of work to be done. Especially on part where Tx 121 and 35W and 287 are about to be changed into one big mixmaster type of intersection.

Stephane Dumas

Do TXDOT plan to put feeder roads/service roads along US-81/287 between Avondale and I-35W so the last driveways will be removed like this one? http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=32.93503,-97.36596&z=16&t=S

wxfree

Quote from: Stephane Dumas on July 08, 2017, 06:52:50 PM
Do TXDOT plan to put feeder roads/service roads along US-81/287 between Avondale and I-35W so the last driveways will be removed like this one? http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=32.93503,-97.36596&z=16&t=S

Yes.  CSJ 001415037 is scheduled for August 2019.  "Construct 2 Way Frontage Rds To 1 Way Frontage Rds And Ramp Modifications"  I'm not certain what exactly that means, but it basically means frontage roads will be built.  I can't give a direct link because of the way the web site works, but if you go to this page, select Counties and Tarrant, and zoom in on the map you can see the information.  The same page will show you projects all over the state.

http://apps.dot.state.tx.us/apps-cq/project_tracker/

The Statewide Planning Map also does this.  It's easier to use because you can scroll statewide instead of selecting geographical areas, but it has less information on it.  It also doesn't include this list the other site shows.  Some projects are not mapped and show up only in the list.  You can select from the four different categories of projects.  There's a limit of two simultaneous overlays, but I'd suggest viewing them individually if you're looking at the projects.

http://www.txdot.gov/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html
I'd like to buy a vowel, Alex.  What is E?

Stephane Dumas

Quote from: wxfree on July 08, 2017, 08:16:05 PM

The Statewide Planning Map also does this.  It's easier to use because you can scroll statewide instead of selecting geographical areas, but it has less information on it.  It also doesn't include this list the other site shows.  Some projects are not mapped and show up only in the list.  You can select from the four different categories of projects.  There's a limit of two simultaneous overlays, but I'd suggest viewing them individually if you're looking at the projects.

http://www.txdot.gov/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html

Cool, thanks for the tip. :D

Bobby5280

It's a very long over-due project. At the bare minimum US-287 needs to be Interstate quality from the I-35W split to the TX-114 split. It seems really odd that those driveways have stayed intact all these years despite all the rampant growth in the DFW area.

Really US-287 needs to be Interstate quality all the way to the North side of Decatur. There are plans to do freeway quality upgrades to segments of US-287 North and South of Decatur. But there's nothing in the work at this time to upgrade US-287 to Interstate quality inside of Decatur. There's a lot of drive ways and other crap through there, but nothing so big to make such an upgrade impossible.

txstateends

http://www.fox4news.com/news/ceremony-celebrates-35-express-completion

Well, as of this morning, the 35Express work from I-635 in Dallas and US 380 in Denton is being considered "complete", even though it doesn't look quite done to me.  The most glaring part is the Lake Lewisville bridge not being elevated the same in both directions.  There are other issues (the whole thing looks rushed and sloppy, it really doesn't look much wider, there are signs missing also) but mainly the lake bridge is the thing that sticks out the most.

Not that there aren't any improvements, mainly the C-D's between the TX 121-Sam Rayburn Tollway exit and the Bush Turnpike exit, as well as the raising of the crossing-exit at Belt Line in Carrollton; those are 2 definite changes.

Maybe this will be like some of the toll road projects have been around here; complete when it comes to drivability, but still some behind-the-scenes and housekeeping to do.
\/ \/ click for a bigger image \/ \/

Chris

The 'ultimate' plan for I-35E between PGBT and SH 121:




compdude787

24 lanes? (18 when you subtract frontage roads) Wow, that's a lot! What are the traffic counts like on this stretch of road?

Bobby5280

#391
I couldn't tell you a number, but the traffic through there has been insane. The ridiculous number of lanes seems well justified. If anything they'll have to start making plans to build additional lanes over the top of those 24 lanes if that region of Texas continues to grow like a virus.

I really really hated my last drive North along I-35E between Dallas and Denton this past July. Hopefully the Northbound lanes of I-35E at least have some new asphalt on them. The narrow lanes are terrible. They'll make any driver appreciate normal 12 foot wide lanes. I'm sure there will be LOTS of fender benders and drivers "trading paint" for the next several years until the final build-out of this I-35E expansion is complete.

Chris

The TxDOT traffic map doesn't list any traffic volume for that particular section between the PGBT and SH 121: http://www.txdot.gov/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html

However based on the adjoining sections being at 160,000 and the plans for this collector/express system in addition to the tolled managed lanes, I'm guessing it's around 170,000 - 200,000 right now.

J N Winkler

The statewide planning map (link given a few posts upthread) has AADT data.  For IH35E it is 176,000 between IH 635 and Beltline Road, 167,000 between Beltline Road and PGBT, and 155,000 just north of SH 121T.  There is also a "future traffic" layer that can be consulted and this shows 2035 AADT values ranging between 240,000 and 295,000.
"It is necessary to spend a hundred lire now to save a thousand lire later."--Piero Puricelli, explaining the need for a first-class road system to Benito Mussolini

Plutonic Panda

Quote from: Bobby5280 on November 10, 2017, 12:27:52 PM
I couldn't tell you a number, but the traffic through there has been insane. The ridiculous number of lanes seems well justified. If anything they'll have to start making plans to build additional lanes over the top of those 24 lanes if that region of Texas continues to grow like a virus.

I really really hated my last drive North along I-35E between Dallas and Denton this past July. Hopefully the Northbound lanes of I-35E at least have some new asphalt on them. The narrow lanes are terrible. They'll make any driver appreciate normal 12 foot wide lanes. I'm sure there will be LOTS of fender benders and drivers "trading paint" for the next several years until the final build-out of this I-35E expansion is complete.
are there releases plans for the "final"  build out? Is any of the current pavement other than the Lewisville Lake bridge temporary?

MaxConcrete

Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 10, 2017, 06:14:22 PM
are there releases plans for the "final"  build out? Is any of the current pavement other than the Lewisville Lake bridge temporary?

The schematics (dated 2010) for the ultimate design are here
http://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/projects/interstate-highways/ih-35e-from-ih-635-to-us-380/schematics-and-environmental-documents

As far as I know, the next phase of the project is not funded and not scheduled, so it will probably be a long time before we see more work on the corridor.

However, I did notice on a recent visit that right-of-way clearance is continuing in a few spots for the ultimate design.
www.DFWFreeways.com
www.HoustonFreeways.com

Brian556

Comments on I-35E:

There are a lot of temporary elements that will be demolished when the next phase is constructed. Concrete walls, signage.

Was just on it today and noticed that they did not add any additional main lanes in Carrollton/Farmers Branch. So, now it has more lanes in Lewisville than farther south where the traffic counts are higher.

They are having to mill down rough spots in the brand new pavement everywhere.
They are doing some work at BUSINESS 121 that, due to the timing, appears to be a problem repair.
They recently had to shut down the new SB Lewisville Lake Bridge. They did not give a reason, of course, and it appears the reason may have been to repair a structural problem with the new bridge. Not sure if it was the same place that they had one last January.
I noticed that a lot of the overhead signage for the toll lanes is located over the main lanes.

Basically everyone in the area is pissed about the poor quality/substandard features of the project.

They just announced that they will begin construction soon on the LOOP 288 interchange, and the new Brinker Rd interchange. There are still only 2 lanes each way in this area.
http://www.dentonrc.com/news/denton/2017/10/03/yes-denton-35e-finished

A new network of more sensitive seismometers was deployed in North Texas last January. It has recorded four very small quakes in the vicinity of the Lake Lewisville Bridge. They are a little east of the bridge, and one was in the neighborhood NE of the FM 407 interchange. We have no data before January 2017 so we don't know if any quakes occurred in the area before then.

J N Winkler

Quote from: MaxConcrete on November 10, 2017, 07:32:47 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 10, 2017, 06:14:22 PM
are there releases plans for the "final"  build out? Is any of the current pavement other than the Lewisville Lake bridge temporary?

The schematics (dated 2010) for the ultimate design are here

http://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/projects/interstate-highways/ih-35e-from-ih-635-to-us-380/schematics-and-environmental-documents

The schematics show how the final design relates to IH 35E as it existed in 2011, but not the interim design.  The job just finished is a design-build, which means there is no set of advertised construction plans to which we can refer.  Released-for-construction (RFC) plans doubtless exist but would probably require an open records request or an insider contact to obtain.  The RFC plans should eventually be compiled and corrected to produce a finished set of final as-built plans, but this project has been so troubled that I suspect this is fairly far in the future.

When IH 35E widening was going through procurement, a set of reference information documents (RID) was put online.  I think it may still be available.  It included tons of as-built construction plans for IH 35E as it existed before this project.  I suspect it also includes MicroStation DGN files for the schematics:  these are occasionally easier to work with than PDFs because layers can be turned on and off.
"It is necessary to spend a hundred lire now to save a thousand lire later."--Piero Puricelli, explaining the need for a first-class road system to Benito Mussolini

Brian556

Quote from: J N Winkler on November 10, 2017, 08:38:16 PM
Quote from: MaxConcrete on November 10, 2017, 07:32:47 PM
Quote from: Plutonic Panda on November 10, 2017, 06:14:22 PM
are there releases plans for the "final"  build out? Is any of the current pavement other than the Lewisville Lake bridge temporary?

The schematics (dated 2010) for the ultimate design are here

http://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/projects/interstate-highways/ih-35e-from-ih-635-to-us-380/schematics-and-environmental-documents

The schematics show how the final design relates to IH 35E as it existed in 2011, but not the interim design.  The job just finished is a design-build, which means there is no set of advertised construction plans to which we can refer.  Released-for-construction (RFC) plans doubtless exist but would probably require an open records request or an insider contact to obtain.  The RFC plans should eventually be compiled and corrected to produce a finished set of final as-built plans, but this project has been so troubled that I suspect this is fairly far in the future.

When IH 35E widening was going through procurement, a set of reference information documents (RID) was put online.  I think it may still be available.  It included tons of as-built construction plans for IH 35E as it existed before this project.  I suspect it also includes MicroStation DGN files for the schematics:  these are occasionally easier to work with than PDFs because layers can be turned on and off.

Here are the schematics for what was built in Phase 1: http://www.35express.org/schematics-and-ROW-maps.php

longhorn

http://www.northtarrantexpress.com/PhotoGalleryNew.asp?ID=68

So according to some of the pics, this whole rebuild was to add two lane toll roads and keep two lane FREE lanes each direction of course. The express toll lanes makes sense, but keeping the free lanes at two do not. Unless I am seeing it wrong.

And it looks like they are going with paving instead of concrete, just like the 183 rebuild.



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