http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/TxDOT-Working-on-I-30-Connector-in-Arlington-276999921.html (http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/TxDOT-Working-on-I-30-Connector-in-Arlington-276999921.html)
A full interchange with direct connectors is long, long, long overdue at this intersection. The current connections are leftovers from the old DFW Turnpike (made free in 1978) and require going through a traffic signal. I was concerned that the interchange may have been put on indefinite hold to try to steer traffic onto the nearby SH 161/Bush Turnpike, which has a brand-new five-level interchange just over a mile away. So this report is encouraging. But as it states, there is no money allocated yet, and the report lists the cost as being around $200 million.
TxDOT Working on I-30 Connector in Arlington
TxDOT moving forward with plans for I-30 / 360 connector, but waiting for money
Wednesday, Sep 24, 2014 - Updated at 5:33 PM CDT
For longtime Arlington resident Tony Fontanelli, explaining how you get from Interstate 30 to State Highway 360 is just as dizzying as driving it.
"You get off [the interstate], then you take the access road, and you come to a stop light," said Fontanelli. "And if you want to go north, you have to make a right-hand turn, go along another access road, and go through another light."
Although they cross near Arlington's Entertainment District, there are no direct connectors between the two highways. Drivers, instead, have to go down side streets and through traffic lights to get from one to the other.
"It's kind of antiquated, and it should have been fixed 25 years ago," said Fontanelli.
The Texas Department of Transportation agrees that change is needed at the interchange.
"It's basically leftover from when I-30 was a turnpike," said Val Lopez, a spokesperson for TxDOT's Fort Worth District. "We are looking to modernize that facility."
Lopez said the project has been on TxDOT's radar for quite some time. In fact, they're nearly finished with the design process. The hold up now is money.
The new interchange is expected to cost $200 million. Lopez said that project is competing with many other road projects that also need to be funded.
"What we're doing is trying to complete the plans, so that when funding is identified, it will be shovel ready," said Lopez.
There's no telling when that money will come down from the state, but drivers like Fontanelli hope it's sooner rather than later.
It's about time, the footprint for a stack is kind of tight though in that area. Some Hotels along I-30 is going to have to be brought out.
I watched TX 360 being built and rebuilt over a period of almost 40 years. At least they finally did something about that dangerous interchange with TX 180 (old US 80). I think there were more skid marks than actual pavement on those ramps. Came close to buying the farm there once myself. :rolleyes:
The public meeting for the planned interchange was held this evening.
* The interchange will be 4-level, not 5-level
* New frontage roads for I-30 will be built through the interchange. The roads are labeled as "collector-distributor rd" in the schematic. However, the frontage roads will not intersect the existing SH 360 frontage roads, so that makes the interchange 4-level.
* All eight direct-connection ramps will be built. All ramps will have one lane only.
* 5 buildings will be displaced on the southeast side of the interchange - mostly fast-food restaurants. Two buildings will be displaced on the northwest side. The fuel station on the NW corner of the Lamar/360 intersection is already closed.
* SH 360 will be fully rebuilt, both main lanes and frontage roads. However, no new lanes will be added.
* I-30 between SH 360 and SH 161 (Bush Turnpike) will be fully rebuilt and widened, with 7 westbound lanes, 6 eastbound lanes and two reversible HOT lanes.
* There were exhibits of alternate plans to extend the I-30 frontage roads from SH 360 to SH 161. But the currently adopted plan stops the frontage roads short of Great Southwest Parkway.
* The information distributed at the meeting lists the project cost at $295 million. This is about 50% higher than the $200 million reported in local news reports.
* The earliest start of construction is summer 2015. I think that start is possible if the newly-available proposition 1 funds are directed to this project.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foscarmail.net%2Fphotos%2F20141202_0008.jpg&hash=7a10cdc484f96eee15a2c6dc54fca1fc373af2d9)
Not eligible for Prop 1 funds if it includes a toll component.
Quote from: dfwmapper on December 02, 2014, 09:56:38 PM
Not eligible for Prop 1 funds if it includes a toll component.
Why would tolls be involved?
Its a part of the new I-30 project. They add a reversible manage lane on I-30 to arlington
Will the Six Flags exit still remain in tact? Always thought that as a weird exit, but it was also there to get people onto 360.
Quote from: Guysdrive780 on December 03, 2014, 07:16:54 AM
Its a part of the new I-30 project. They add a reversible manage lane on I-30 to arlington
What does that have to do with the SH 360 interchange? Those lanes just run right through the middle.
Quote from: NE2 on December 03, 2014, 08:02:12 AM
Quote from: Guysdrive780 on December 03, 2014, 07:16:54 AM
Its a part of the new I-30 project. They add a reversible manage lane on I-30 to arlington
What does that have to do with the SH 360 interchange? Those lanes just run right through the middle.
You asked why there where tolls part of it and I answered your question
And I disagree. The reversible lanes are not part of this project.
Quote from: NE2 on December 03, 2014, 08:15:17 AM
And I disagree. The reversible lanes are not part of this project.
Kinda, its just a different project that's going on now that happen to cross paths
Quote from: NE2 on December 03, 2014, 06:47:30 AM
Quote from: dfwmapper on December 02, 2014, 09:56:38 PM
Not eligible for Prop 1 funds if it includes a toll component.
Why would tolls be involved?
I was going off this:
Quote from: MaxConcrete on December 02, 2014, 09:40:22 PM
* I-30 between SH 360 and SH 161 (Bush Turnpike) will be fully rebuilt and widened, with 7 westbound lanes, 6 eastbound lanes and two reversible HOT lanes.
If they're doing that as a separate project, then great, full speed ahead with the Prop 1 money on the interchange. If it's all one big project, then it's a problem, mostly that the accountants weren't smart enough to break it up.
Quote from: MaxConcrete on December 02, 2014, 09:40:22 PM
* There were exhibits of alternate plans to extend the I-30 frontage roads from SH 360 to SH 161. But the currently adopted plan stops the frontage roads short of Great Southwest Parkway.
Speaking of Great Southwest parkway, I saw the current overpass being 2 lanes while it's 4-lanes divided boulevard, north and south of the overpass. Do they plan to rebuilt the overpass to accomodate 4-lanes or even link Great Southwest pkwy to the future I-30 service roads?
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on December 03, 2014, 07:44:58 PM
Speaking of Great Southwest parkway, I saw the current overpass being 2 lanes while it's 4-lanes divided boulevard, north and south of the overpass. Do they plan to rebuilt the overpass to accomodate 4-lanes or even link Great Southwest pkwy to the future I-30 service roads?
Yes, Great Southwest Parkway will have new bridges with two lanes in each direction. Note that north is to the right in the schematic below.
Also, the Avenenues F and G on both sides of the freeway are being considered to be converted into one-way frontage roads.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Foscarmail.net%2Fphotos%2F20141202_0010_800.jpg&hash=f5a4a0a3b5789459d5c0440bda6f5a303c2a0a67)
Quote from: dfwmapper on December 02, 2014, 09:56:38 PM
Not eligible for Prop 1 funds if it includes a toll component.
It turns out I was wrong when I stated that the two lanes in the center of Interstate 30 are planned to be HOT lanes. They are in fact planned as HOV lanes and will not be tolled. The planned interchange at SH 360 and improvements to Interstate 30 are just inside Tarrant County. Once the HOV lanes cross into Dallas County, the HOV lanes became HOT lanes and are tolled.
I attended a NCTCOG public meeting this evening, and the COG director said that anything associated with a toll facility is ineligible for Proposition 1 funding. Since this project has no toll component, the entire project is eligible for proposition 1 funding, and the project is in fact at or near the top of the list to receive funding. So we can look for this contract to be awarded in the second half of 2015.
Quote from: Stephane Dumas on December 03, 2014, 07:44:58 PM
Speaking of Great Southwest parkway, I saw the current overpass being 2 lanes while it's 4-lanes divided boulevard, north and south of the overpass. Do they plan to rebuilt the overpass to accomodate 4-lanes or even link Great Southwest pkwy to the future I-30 service roads?
After all the years I drove over that miserable excuse of a road and bridge, NOW they finally get around to actually doing something about it. Incredible. :angry:
I saw some alternatives studied for the services roads of I-30 and other plans at
http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/fort-worth/120214.html
http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/ftw/i-30-gswp-alt1.pdf
http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/ftw/i-30-gswp-alt2.pdf
Quote from: MaxConcrete on December 08, 2014, 11:19:40 PM
Quote from: dfwmapper on December 02, 2014, 09:56:38 PM
Not eligible for Prop 1 funds if it includes a toll component.
It turns out I was wrong when I stated that the two lanes in the center of Interstate 30 are planned to be HOT lanes. They are in fact planned as HOV lanes and will not be tolled. The planned interchange at SH 360 and improvements to Interstate 30 are just inside Tarrant County. Once the HOV lanes cross into Dallas County, the HOV lanes became HOT lanes and are tolled.
I attended a NCTCOG public meeting this evening, and the COG director said that anything associated with a toll facility is ineligible for Proposition 1 funding. Since this project has no toll component, the entire project is eligible for proposition 1 funding, and the project is in fact at or near the top of the list to receive funding. So we can look for this contract to be awarded in the second half of 2015.
Wait, what? Are they currently converting the HOV lanes on I-30 in Dallas county to HOT lanes then?
Quote from: rantanamo on December 22, 2014, 02:06:14 PM
Wait, what? Are they currently converting the HOV lanes on I-30 in Dallas county to HOT lanes then?
My understanding based on what I heard at the recent NCTCOG meeting is that the HOV lanes will be HOT lanes in Dallas County. However, I can't say for a fact that I am correct. As you are probably aware, there is a big construction project in Dallas underway to provide access ramps to the HOV/HOT lanes. In Tarrant County, the lanes would be HOV lanes (no toll). HOT lanes in Dallas County is consistent with the following document posted on the NCTCOG web site, but that document is inaccurate since it shows the HOT lanes extending into Tarrant County.
http://www.nctcog.org/trans/mtp/managed/documents/ManagedLaneSystemMap.pdf (http://www.nctcog.org/trans/mtp/managed/documents/ManagedLaneSystemMap.pdf)
TxDOT is having a public meeting with the final design in advance of the project going to bid later this year
Schematics available on the meeting page
http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/fort-worth/063015.html (http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/fort-worth/063015.html)
Observation:
The alternative designs to extend the I-30 frontage roads between SH 360 and SH 161 were not adopted. Two-way Avenue F and G along the south and north sides of the freeway will remain as-is, dead-ending on the west side of Great Southwest Parkway. Otherwise, I don't see any major changes to the design that was presented last year.
Also, I'm glad to see the ridiculous barrier that was recently built in the middle of the pavement to limit eastbound traffic to three lanes will be removed, and there will be five eastbound lanes approaching the SH 360 interchange.
Anyone looking at the schematics may notice that the new eastbound frontage road is built over the site of the old Texas Turnpike Authority administration building, which was built for the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike in 1957. Below are some photos of the demolition of that building in 2011.
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/AARoads/20110122_sbowl_017-800.jpg)
(https://1968d90e831cd27d2017897e0c81e9a12852eb10.googledrive.com/host/0B4gwdXQk1LyieHZHSTBqd0VJSnc/AARoads/20110122_sbowl_021-800.jpg)
TxDOT recently posted a video depiction of the project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMxIf8t_jHE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMxIf8t_jHE)
The project is listed at $236 million and is scheduled for award in October 2015
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2016/tarrant.htm#106802076 (http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2016/tarrant.htm#106802076)
Bids were opened today. The winning bidder was Houston's Williams Brothers construction at $233 million, no surprise since their biggest strength is big interchanges with long elevated structures. They normally complete their projects on or ahead of schedule.
Estimate $238,772,715.23 % Over/Under Company
Bidder 1 $233,181,888.49 -2.34% WILLIAMS BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
Bidder 2 $241,960,820.07 +1.34% BALFOUR BEATTY INFRASTRUCTURE, INC.
Bidder 3 $245,498,999.03 +2.82% ODEBRECHT CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Bidder 4 $259,980,834.68 +8.88% WEBBER, LLC
Bidder 5 $261,083,437.24 +9.34% ZACHRY CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION
Bidder 6 $271,683,702.56 +13.78% AUSTIN BRIDGE & ROAD SERVICES, LP
Bidder 7 $298,338,206.13 +24.95% ARCHER WESTERN CONSTRUCTION, LLC
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/bidtab/11043231.htm (http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/bidtab/11043231.htm)
http://www.nbcdfw.com/traffic/stories/TxDOT-Arlington-Break-Ground-on-Major-Interchange-Project-370868591.html
Construction on the I-30 / SH 360 interchange in Arlington started.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FluMbVEN.jpg&hash=5d0bd58c9b9c1537b74dc8deaea45fca8be656d2)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fo6p0Q1M.jpg&hash=9a3a525e4c99e35c6a31e0166fcd8a592909d9c6)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUjVuKBO.jpg&hash=013b8c4349e3fa41bd4512b2b99c76f77d71b895)
Why didn't they build an interchange between these two routes in the first place?
I-30 was built as a turnpike. The original interchange ran all traffic onto a single road, where the toll booth was located. The original configuration, minus the toll booth, is still used.
Plus, when the original turnpike was built, 360 was a two-lane road and the whole area was still open country. Just 15 years ago 360 ran mostly on frontage roads with no main lanes except at a couple of interchanges (including I-30).
Quote from: Road Hog on March 04, 2016, 09:05:29 AM
Plus, when the original turnpike was built, 360 was a two-lane road and the whole area was still open country. Just 15 years ago 360 ran mostly on frontage roads with no main lanes except at a couple of interchanges (including I-30).
Actually, most of the main lanes were built in the 1980s, 30 years ago. The far north and far south main lanes opened in 2005 and 2006.
http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChMidCitiesFreeways/10_mid_cities-450.jpg (http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ChMidCitiesFreeways/10_mid_cities-450.jpg)
Dude.... this is a huge project.
I wish here in Houston we could get cool things like this instead of the Grand Parkway (excluding the section form 290 to I45) in the middle of nowhere...
[Sigh] :no:
uhh, 610@59
Correct me if I'm wrong but the 610/59 rebuild isn't adding any capacity. This project does.
Uh, the entire central freeway complex is scheduled to be reconstructed in the next decade
New project website:::::::
http://www.keep30360moving.org/
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/richard-greene/article230690884.html
The article reports that the project is behind schedule.
Quote
Originally scheduled for completion in 2020, we are now told it will be sometime in the following year before it's done.
The report also has an inaccuracy: "The Arlington intersection of I-30 and State Highway 360 is the last of the interchanges between Fort Worth and Dallas to be upgraded from the original cloverleaf design of the old DFW Turnpike that opened to traffic in 1957." Not true, the intersection at Interstate 30 and Loop 12 is still in the original toll cloverleaf configuration.
Quote from: MaxConcrete on May 22, 2019, 08:16:53 PM
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/richard-greene/article230690884.html
The article reports that the project is behind schedule.
Quote
Originally scheduled for completion in 2020, we are now told it will be sometime in the following year before it's done.
The report also has an inaccuracy: "The Arlington intersection of I-30 and State Highway 360 is the last of the interchanges between Fort Worth and Dallas to be upgraded from the original cloverleaf design of the old DFW Turnpike that opened to traffic in 1957." Not true, the intersection at Interstate 30 and Loop 12 is still in the original toll cloverleaf configuration.
Not only I-30/West Loop 12, but IINM, the I-30/Hampton exit hasn't changed much or any, either, compared to the Turnpike days. Also, the WB exit to Lamar and Cooper in Arlington has a RIRO-like/Turnpike look, and there's a RIRO exit east of Oakland in Fort Worth in both directions that I'm sure was pre-1978 as well.
The few times I've seen the I-30/TX 360 work, it didn't really look like they were exactly busting it out there. I don't want to accuse them of having an 8-hour coffee/donuts buffet, but it really didn't have the appearance of getting very far along.
Aerial photo from very early in the history of the DFW Turnpike (used in the Star-Telegram article), looking west, pre-Six Flags...
(https://www.star-telegram.com/latest-news/k0i6zm/picture230692069/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1140/DFW%20Turnpike%201957.jpg)
Quote from: MaxConcrete on May 22, 2019, 08:16:53 PM
https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/richard-greene/article230690884.html
The article reports that the project is behind schedule.
Quote
Originally scheduled for completion in 2020, we are now told it will be sometime in the following year before it's done.
The report also has an inaccuracy: "The Arlington intersection of I-30 and State Highway 360 is the last of the interchanges between Fort Worth and Dallas to be upgraded from the original cloverleaf design of the old DFW Turnpike that opened to traffic in 1957." Not true, the intersection at Interstate 30 and Loop 12 is still in the original toll cloverleaf configuration.
Actually they did do some work to the loop 12 interchange they replaced at least the bridge going over interstate 30 and new interstate 30 bridges were comstructed during the early 2000s. Hampton road had some ramp reconfigurations and a new ramp bridge crossing 30 was built. New interchanges at cockrell hill, westmoreland, conversion of belt line into a standard on and off ramp exit configuration was done during the reconstruction from what at the time was 19th st to beckley.
This project is proceeding at a glacial pace.
Bids were opened in November 2015 and work started in April 2016, but the project appears to be less than 50% complete. Only two ramps are open, and the other six are all less than 50% complete. The official site says completion is in 2021, but they're going to need to start moving fast to make that schedule. The contractor Williams Brothers can work very fast if they want to, so we can't rule out on-time completion.
You can see the status on the official photo site: https://www.keep30360moving.org/images/interchange/ (https://www.keep30360moving.org/images/interchange/)
I also posted 10 new photos here (at the end of the collection): http://dfwfreeways.com/i30-landry/construction-360 (http://dfwfreeways.com/i30-landry/construction-360)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2Fi30-landry%2Fconstruction%2F20200906-07_127_1200.jpg&hash=1a5ae4f81dc0f178351c2daad05d398959fb52ad)
Well here is a milestone.
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/traffic/sh-360-at-i-30-in-arlington-closing-for-three-days-for-bridge-construction/3052393/
Wasn't there once a service area in the vicinity of the Interstate 30/TX 360 interchange? Does anyone know when it was demolished?
The service area was located at present-day Ballpark way. Eastbound services were on the southwest side of the interchange, and westbound services were on the northeast side. According to a press report for the opening, "Signs and lights are being installed and final touches are underway on the two service stations and two restaurants located midway between Dallas and Fort Worth near Arlington." I don't know about later additions, or when the facilities were closed.
The TTA office was located on the southeast corner of the Turnpike and SH 360. See attached image. I have photos of that building being demolished in 2011. However it looks like I never posted those photos on DFWFreeways.com.
http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ExDFWTurnpike/09_Tom_Landry_Highway-404.jpg (http://dfwfreeways.com/images/book/ExDFWTurnpike/09_Tom_Landry_Highway-404.jpg)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdfwfreeways.com%2Fimages%2Fbook%2FExDFWTurnpike%2F09_Tom_Landry_Highway-404.jpg&hash=68292f0c535c22e0be199d81480ff23c6816b393)
The interchange construction yard is located at the site of the former TTA office. Photo taken March 2022.
http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/i30-landry/construction/360_20220319-20_DFW_232_1200.jpg (http://dallasfreeways.com/dfwfreeways/i30-landry/construction/360_20220319-20_DFW_232_1200.jpg)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2Fi30-landry%2Fconstruction%2F360_20220319-20_DFW_232_1200.jpg&hash=a6e05ae9c59c0ded14067c7dfc4f7f65830650bb)
Three days ago, the City of Arlington posted an aerial photo (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=473737464781935&set=a.222765506545800) of the ongoing construction to Facebook, which has stimulated conversation on the road-related Facebook groups. This prompted me to do a little checking on project progress.
StreetView imagery dated September 2022 (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7595082,-97.0628706,3a,63.6y,267.31h,92.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sK7SoBH9ZgYHllJmb9T6ixw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
Quite a lot of steel still has to be hung for the direct connectors.
Quote from: J N Winkler on October 14, 2022, 06:52:55 PM
Three days ago, the City of Arlington posted an aerial photo (https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=473737464781935&set=a.222765506545800) of the ongoing construction to Facebook, which has stimulated conversation on the road-related Facebook groups. This prompted me to do a little checking on project progress.
StreetView imagery dated September 2022 (https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7595082,-97.0628706,3a,63.6y,267.31h,92.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sK7SoBH9ZgYHllJmb9T6ixw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
Quite a lot of steel still has to be hung for the direct connectors.
This project will likely rank among the slowest-completed DFW projects ever.
They've been working on this thing for six years and counting. Based on the latest Street View imagery of the scene (9/2022), it looks they might be working at least another year or two to get the interchange completed. It's a long way from being finished. From what I can tell it appears they still need to build more support pillars in the center of the interchange.
The odd thing is there's nothing visually special about this interchange design. The pillars are very plain-Jane looking. The overpasses are the same old conventional concrete and steel girder designs. They're not doing any "elegant" looking, like a cast-segmental design typical of interchanges in California and Arizona. So why is this project taking so damned much time to finish? The global pandemic and supply chain issues might be a culprit. But they were working on this project for almost 3 years before the pandemic really got bad.
This project was let so long ago (November 2015) that I actually struggled briefly to find the sign panel detail sheets for it--they turned out not to be in the folder that has PDFs and already has about 7,760 sheets, but rather the older folder for TIFFs that has 16,652 sheets, dating from TxDOT first putting plans online around 2000 all the way to their discontinuing TIFF scans of hardcopy plans sets about six years ago.
I speculate that the contractor is dragging its feet in order to allocate resources elsewhere and TxDOT is deliberately not enforcing whatever deadlines and prosecution-and-progress clauses exist in the contract. The Dallas High Five is structurally somewhat more complex and went up in less than half the time, and in a casual inspection of satellite imagery I can't identify any site-specific constraints that might make the construction process more like keyhole surgery than usual. For example, the contractor has multiple staging areas protected from traffic, similar to the casting yard near the High Five.
The contractor is Houston's Williams Brothers, which had persistent problems with taking far longer than scheduled in the 1990s. Williams built most of the Eastex freeway expansion north of I-610 in Houston, and they generally took twice the allocated time. Folks in Houston surely remember the glacial pace of work. Work on individual sections took up to 10 years! The reason was because late penalties were extremely low, and it was more profitable for Williams to shift resources to other projects (and get the higher-margin progress payments) and pay the minimal late fees for the Eastex work. The SH 146 Baytown ship channel bridge was another Williams project which took far longer than scheduled.
After the Eastex delays, TxDOT drastically increased late penalties and some projects even had early completion bonuses. The High Five in Dallas had an early completion bonus, which surely helped speed up the work. Williams Brothers changed from being one of the slowest contractors to being one of the fastest. Big jobs done by Williams like the Katy Freeway expansion (completed 2008) were completed on or ahead of schedule. After 2000, I can't think of any Williams projects that have been behind schedule.
In DFW, another project which took a long time was the interchange at IH 820 and SH 183/SH 121. It took 8 years of effort when completed in 2001. (The contractor was not Williams.)
Which brings us to this project. Looking at the original bids, the results page says the project was scheduled for 1150 working days, which is around 6 years. (http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/bidtab/11043231.htm)
Assuming a start at the beginning of 2016, completion should have been around the end of 2021, which was only 9 months ago. Extensions were probably granted for Covid, possibly through mid 2023. Williams can move very fast if they want to. Now that they have a new $333 million contract on I-30 in Rockwall, I think they're going to start moving very fast to get the I-30/SH 360 interchange done by summer 2023. (I hope my prediction comes true!)
I lived in this area from 1956 to 1999 and can't remember a time when there wasn't some kind of active construction along TX 360 - either new terrain or rebuilding the existing. It's like the road that is never finished. Drove thru there more times than I could count. Glad to see it finally getting this far along but it really was needed years ago. Better late than never I guess? :hmmm:
I remember the I-820/I-35W interchange taking a bit longer than usual to complete. Construction ran from 2011 to around 2017. However that's a really complex stack interchange. It isn't a "pretty" interchange, but holy cow, it has a lot more flyover ramps than usual. And even more flyover ramps could be added to that interchange if the express lanes on I-820 are extended West of I-35W.
The first direct connectors have opened to traffic: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/2023/03/23/two-i-30-ramps-open-after-years-of-construction-in-arlington-when-will-the-work-be-done/
They anticipate 'substantial completion' by the end of the year. Is this the slowest project in Texas? Construction began 7 years ago.
(https://i.imgur.com/jSjd5uS.jpg)
There a Streetview imagery from last February taken from the ramp from TX-360 south to I-30 west. https://goo.gl/maps/hYBYvDRcaDrMP2Q5A
New photos taken this week are posted on the official site. 6 of the 8 connectors are open and the remaining two connectors are mostly done, with some final work remaining at the SH 360 northbound exit ramp.
https://www.keep30360moving.org/images/interchange/ (https://www.keep30360moving.org/images/interchange/)
I think the freeway work may be done by the end of this year. Finally! Eight years after the contract award in 2015. It looks like work on Six Flags Boulevard will lag, extending well into 2024.
(https://www.keep30360moving.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/231003199-300-scaled.jpg)
(https://www.keep30360moving.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/231003200-300-scaled.jpg)
(https://www.keep30360moving.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/231003204-300-scaled.jpg)
I'm not intending to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it's too bad all those flyover ramps were built as single lane ramps. I figured at least one or more movements might have been worth two lanes. Plus, those top level ramps ought to make anyone with vertigo tendencies more than a little queasy.