Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike

[wxfree]

I don't know how widely available this map is.  I'd never seen it before, and a search doesn't turn it up.  NTTA's Facebook linked to their Pinterest account (for some reason NTTA's on Pinterest) and one of the pages is for maps.  http://pinterest.com/tolltagtidbits/maps/

Most of them are ones I've seen before and are available elsewhere, but there's one old one, labeled 1953, showing the old DFW Turnpike.  It shows locations of toll plazas as well as locations and details of interchanges and the service area in the middle.  https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/a9/18/b6/a918b6db89c13dac5579999c6ab4fc04.jpg

I don't know if NTTA recently dug this out of the archives from the TTA days, or if it was already out there, but I'd never seen it before and thought it was interesting.

[TheStranger]

Most interesting aspect to me: the Fort Worth Mixmaster in its original configuration that far back.  Was it built before 1953 or in that year?

Reason I ask:

- Wikipedia claims the I-94/M-10 junction in Detroit was the very first full freeway-to-freeway interchange, and it was built that year.

- IIRC, the Four-Level in Los Angeles was constructed from 1949-1953 or so, give or take.

I wonder which of the three actually came first...

[NE2]

I wonder which of the three actually came first...

None of them. NYC and vicinity had a bunch by 1941: http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-2/ http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-4/

[TheStranger]

I wonder which of the three actually came first...

None of them. NYC and vicinity had a bunch by 1941: http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-2/ http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-4/

Would the three then be in the running for "first all-flyover freeway-to-freeway interchange"?  Just strange that that's noted in Wikipedia when there's that counterexample you just mentioned.

[US81]

I grew up in the area and remember much of those amazing looping ramps. I was amused to note one exit named "SH 157" when it is correctly "FM 157."  (If I have seen this map as a child, I'm sure I was more outraged than amused.)

What a great find - Thank you for sharing!

[MaxConcrete]

There are actually many old DFW Turnpike brochures available, many at libraries. Most brochures have a similar map.

I included several brochure covers in the DFW Freeways book (free download).

DFW Turnpike excerpt
PDF: http://oscarmail.net/dfwfreeways-book/pdf/09_Excerpt_DFW_Turnpike_20120914.pdf
HTML: http://www.dfwfreeways.com/QuickView/ExDFWTurnpike?startOdd=False&pdfSize=8+MB&pdfFile=09_Excerpt_DFW_Turnpike_20120914.pdf

One item I really wanted to find for the book is a photo including a reference to Turnpike Stadium, either on a sign or on the stadium itself. I did not find such a photo.

www.DFWFreeways.com

[NE2]

I wonder which of the three actually came first...

None of them. NYC and vicinity had a bunch by 1941: http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-2/ http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-4/

Would the three then be in the running for "first all-flyover freeway-to-freeway interchange"?  Just strange that that's noted in Wikipedia when there's that counterexample you just mentioned.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_11154_11188-29426--,00.html says 1955 for the Michigan one. So it was certainly not the first, but it was early.

If you count three-ways like the Dallas Mixmaster, the interchange in the middle of the Triborough Bridge is a similar three-way from 1936, and the Cross Island/Whitestone Parkway interchange dates to 1939-40.

[TheStranger]

I wonder which of the three actually came first...

None of them. NYC and vicinity had a bunch by 1941: http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-2/ http://www.nycroads.com/history/1941_metro-4/

Would the three then be in the running for "first all-flyover freeway-to-freeway interchange"?  Just strange that that's noted in Wikipedia when there's that counterexample you just mentioned.

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620_11154_11188-29426--,00.html says 1955 for the Michigan one. So it was certainly not the first, but it was early.

If you count three-ways like the Dallas Mixmaster, the interchange in the middle of the Triborough Bridge is a similar three-way from 1936, and the Cross Island/Whitestone Parkway interchange dates to 1939-40.

Hmm.  The MacArthur Maze in Oakland in its earliest form is from...1936 I think? 

The Doyle Drive freeway in SF dates to 1937 and I think the 101/1 interchange that remained unmodified until the Presidio Parkway construction last year was a part of that.

[Road Hog]

Are there any remnants of the toll plazas? I imagine reconstruction over the years has wiped out any sign of them.

[DevalDragon]

You can tell where they were at the TX 360 exit in Arlington and TX 12 in Irving. Both still have turnpike style exits. Also, the foundation of the old headquarters building is still visible at the 360 exit.

[US81]

It's been years since I've driven thru, but there used to be partial remnants of the big loops at Hampton Rd and Cooper St.  IIRC, Ballpark Way crosses over the foundations of the old service plaza.

[txstateends]

It's been years since I've driven thru, but there used to be partial remnants of the big loops at Hampton Rd and Cooper St.  IIRC, Ballpark Way crosses over the foundations of the old service plaza.

Much of the loopy ramps at Collins got re-arranged and undone during the last few years of I-30 work.  The hotel portion of the service plaza still remains and was IIRR a Howard Johnson or Days Inn when I saw it last.  The exits at TX 360 and at Loop 12 are the only ones left that still largely resemble their days of the Turnpike era.  You'd think after 35ish years that the Turnpike look would be completely gone, but oh well, such is TxDOT....