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[Brian556]

Looking at Google Maps, I am noticing a few grade separations under construction on US 81/287, and a check of TXDOT project tracker shows more in the works, including at FM 1810 in Decatur.

The separation at BUS US 81/287 on the south side of Decatur was just competed. Interestingly, they signed the BUS route as just BUSINESS 81, leaving off the 287 signs. While this is technically correct by the books, TxDOT has always signed it BUS 81/287. This one appears to have been installed by TxDOT since the project is not complete in this view: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2037679,-97.565935,3a,15y,332.07h,87.64t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1st802j2mUNYxwvqpoiF7aiA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656. I'm wondering if they had a policy change on this. There is also a DO NOT ENTER sign facing traffic on a two-way roadway.https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2028881,-97.5671996,3a,75y,16.8h,84.05t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s6fUz78TP8iADn1g1qvEeGQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D6fUz78TP8iADn1g1qvEeGQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D351.2901%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

US 81/287 / BUS US 81(/287) interchange:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2040401,-97.5626982,1515m/data=!3m1!1e3

[wxfree]

I think that Do Not Enter sign is meant to apply to the frontage road.  It's right under the One Way sign.  It's at a right angle, which is unusual.  It's on a permanent post, not one of the temporary ones, so it would seem to be intentional.  I don't like the placement.  If they want a sign there, it should be a left turn prohibition sign.

[In_Correct]

Are they trying to keep the current alignment through Decatur, or bypass it? If they are going to do a full upgrade they might as well bypass it so that there will be room for frontage roads. Currently there are a few businesses next to the highway that would have to be moved ... although some of those businesses wouldn't even lose parking lot space. It doesn't look like they have much left until the highway through Decatur is completely upgraded. 

The Do Not Enter sign is on the opposite side of the road, next to the lanes headed away from the bridge and between the off ramp & the bridge. It should probably be replaced with a No Left Turn sign, and a Wrong Way and Do Not Enter signs placed closer to the Off Ramp.

I think it is more efficient if they would make the lighter traffic roads go over the highway, not under it.

As for what to call it, they should probably just call it Highway 287. As far as I am concerned, Highway 81 currently ends in Bowie.

[Brian556]

As far as I know, they are keeping the current alignment thru Decatur. I just cannot see them realigning it again. US 81 ends at I-35W in north Fort Worth. To me, I see no reason not to truncate it to Bowie to avoid the current unnecessary multiplex. Of course, 81 used to go all the way to Laredo. When they truncated it, they were trying to eliminate US highways that were concurrent with interstates, and that's probably why it got truncated to where it did.

Also worth noting, on GSV, I noted at US-81 only assembly for the main route at FM 1810. Also, they made FM 1810 right turn only at US 81/287 to improve safety until the grade separation could be built. There are now overhead flashing red lights in conjunction with a yield sign, which is wrong. Also, the median has stop signs, but looks it looks way too thin to have them. The US 81 assembly is behind the 18-wheeler, move around to see it.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.2442184,-97.6051911,3a,54.7y,74.69h,94.88t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1spq9FAAYoed11jjKor8CEUQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dpq9FAAYoed11jjKor8CEUQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D57.261646%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

[texaskdog]

Does 81 still need to be multiplexed on here? 

[txstateends]

Does 81 still need to be multiplexed on here? 

Most people I hear referencing the part between Fort Worth and Bowie just say 287 (not 81, or 81 and 287), so if conversation or my opinion meant anything to TxDOT (or AASHTO?), I'd say truncate 81 at Bowie.

[txstateends]

Meanwhile, the new BUS US 81 exit looks nice, and was probably necessary with the way traffic is getting up that way.  From what I've heard, they can't do an FM 1810 exit soon enough.  The times I've seen it, it always has a line waiting to turn off to 1810, as well as a few trying to get on 287 from 1810.  I didn't realize 1810 was done now as right turn only onto 287; I guess that was as good a fix as any till they make the turnoff into a full exit.

[Bobby5280]

Are they trying to keep the current alignment through Decatur, or bypass it? If they are going to do a full upgrade they might as well bypass it so that there will be room for frontage roads. Currently there are a few businesses next to the highway that would have to be moved ... although some of those businesses wouldn't even lose parking lot space. It doesn't look like they have much left until the highway through Decatur is completely upgraded.

I think the intention, at least in the long term, is to upgrade US-287 to an Interstate quality facility completely through Decatur and perhaps do the same thing with US-380 as well. There is a lot of DFW related growth headed in the general direction of Decatur. And the interchange between US-287 and US-380 is a significant crossroads. TX DOT seems to be starting on the North and South ends of Decatur and then making the upgrade proceed inwards into town. The project involving FM-1810 seems fairly big.

The properties hugging the edge of US-287 just South of the US-380 interchange aren't major pieces of real estate. Some may get by just having their lots adjusted, but at least a few will have to be taken to make room for a full freeway upgrade. In the center of Decatur, if they could bulldoze America's Best Value inn on the West side of US-287 TX DOT might have room for a freeway upgrade with frontage roads between the Hale Ave exit and College Ave. exit. On the South side of Decatur there is a large car dealership standing it the way of a freeway upgrade. The dealer's lot would need to be reconfigured and a couple buildings relocated. Same goes for some industrial businesses on the other side of the road.

Decatur seems almost like a Breezewood of sorts. It's not going to be real easy punching a freeway upgrade through there. But TX DOT really needs to get after the project sooner than later before that corridor gets even more clogged with development.

[splashflash]

One at-grade crossing to be eliminated just south of Decatur, but new interchange not announced.

The original $40M project, with a new interchange at NRS Ranch Road and new frontage roads appears to be either drawn out beyond the originally planned two phases.  Moving the level crossing at CR 4228 south 1/2 mile to NRS Ranch Road is promised to improve safety with better site lines.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/nextdoor/decatur-and-new-fairview-construction-begins-this-week-on-a-project-to-relocate-the-us-81287-intersection-at-county-road-4228-just-south-of-decatur/ar-NDA5Y4jN4Z4Tk

[abqtraveler]

It would make sense to upgrade US-287 between I-35W and Wichita Falls to a full freeway, preferably to interstate standards. In the longer term, they should look further west and build bypasses around the remaining towns between Vernon and Amarillo, through which US-287 passes. At least to make the full length of 287 between Amarillo and Fort Worth non-stop and with a 75 mph speed limit, save for Wichita Falls.

[Bobby5280]

One at-grade crossing to be eliminated just south of Decatur, but new interchange not announced.

Nothing to get excited about there. I recall seeing a plan to build a freeway exit at the FM-4228 intersection and another one a little farther South at FM-4421. It would have created about a 5 mile long section of freeway from the Bus-81 Exit on South. Now it looks like TX DOT is slow-walking those projects.

Honestly the non-freeway segments of US-287 between Rhome and the South side of Decatur would be easy to upgrade. It's just a matter of building out the frontage roads to cut off all the side road access to the US-287 main lanes. This should be considered "low hanging fruit" in terms of projects that need to get done in the DFW region.

Of course there's other crap that still needs to get "cleaned up" on US-287 between I-35W and the TX-114 interchange.

I'm also disappointed other projects on the books, such as the FM-1810 intersection with US-287 on the North side of Decatur, appear to be going absolutely nowhere. That location is a freaking mess. I always have to be pretty careful driving through there.

It would make sense to upgrade US-287 between I-35W and Wichita Falls to a full freeway, preferably to interstate standards. In the longer term, they should look further west and build bypasses around the remaining towns between Vernon and Amarillo, through which US-287 passes.

Decatur appears to be the toughest nut to crack as far as any aspirations go with upgrading the US-287 corridor between Fort Worth and Wichita Falls (or even Amarillo). If they get a freeway upgrade punched through that clutter in Decatur the upgrades farther Northwest would be easier to tackle. Aside from the FM-1810 mess the segment of US-287 going up to Alvord looks like it has enough ROW to fit a 4-lane freeway flanked by frontage roads. The rest of it going up to Wichita Falls looks pretty simple to upgrade. Bellevue would be a bit of a hurdle; I'd bet TX DOT could buy up property needed for ROW and go straight thru.

US-287 from I-44 West to Vernon is another segment that would be relatively easy to at least make 100% limited access. Much of it just involves extending the frontage roads. Some of the ramp designs at various exits look pretty outdated. That might get in the way of signing that portion as an Interstate.

Obviously the other towns farther Northwest would need new bypasses. Most of them wouldn't have to be very substantial since the towns have tended to grow to the North or South of US-287 and the BNSF line. Childress would probably be the longest bypass out of the bunch. Tiny towns like Goodlett and Hedley might be able to get away with upgrading the existing alignment straight through.

[splashflash]

Avondale Haslet Road to Progress Road upgrading of US 81/287 to have more public engagement

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/hearings-meetings/fort-worth/us81us-287-rhome.html

US 81/US 287 Rhome
Virtual public hearing with in-person option
Virtual: Tuesday May 16, 2023 at 5 p.m. through Friday, June 2, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
In-person: Tuesday, May 16, 2023, 5 - 7 p.m.

This appears to be phase of a bigger project to upgrade US 287 to freeway standards.  Phase 1, south of Avondale Haslet to I-35W, already had two sets of public meetings, one last year and one in 2019.

A timeline does appear though, with construction to begin in 2026, but funding is needed.
Here is the description.
   
The proposed 10-mile project would reconstruct the US 81/US 287 main lanes from north of Pioneer Road to Avondale Haslet Road and reconstruct and add an additional main lane (three main lanes in each direction) south of Avondale-Haslet Road to the southern project limit. The proposed project also includes the construction, or reconstruction, and conversion of frontage roads to create a continuous one-way system within the project limits.

The frontage roads would include:

Two travel lanes on either side of US 81/US 287,
Left turn lanes at cross streets,
Adjacent shared use paths for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations within the project limits
The proposed project also includes new overpasses at County Road 4840 and Future Northstar Parkway, a new underpass at Ramhorn Hill Road, and new direct connectors at State Highway 114 East. Additionally, the proposed project would include operational improvements to existing cross streets, ramps, and auxiliary lanes. The proposed project is not currently funded and may be constructed in phases through break-out projects based on funding availability.

The proposed project would require approximately 16 acres of new right of way; however, no residential or non-residential displacements are anticipated at this time.

From an article, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/public-meeting-to-be-held-on-proposed-us-81-us-287-project/ar-AA1b2EM0

"It would take the existing frontage roads (and) make sure that they're one way," says TxDOT spokeswoman Bethany Kurtz, "as well as add sections of frontage road where they don't have any."

This section is the second part of a mssive reconstruction project along U.S. 81/U.S. 287; the first part extends south of Avondale-Haslet Rd. to I-35W.

"It would also reconstruct and add an additional main lane south of Avondale-Haslet Road to the southern end of the project," says Kurtz.

$454 million - projected total cost

[Bobby5280]

That's a very long overdue project. I just hope there isn't any new development that could creep into the path between now and 2026 or whenever construction starts.

That area North and Northwest of Fort Worth is really blowing up with all sorts of new homes and other buildings. Before they're even done with this project on US-287 they'll have to start adding more lanes to US-287. I can see it needing to be a 3x3 configuration bare minimum between TX-114 and I-35W.