AARoads Forum

Regional Boards => Mid-South => Topic started by: Chris on August 14, 2018, 02:24:19 PM

Title: I-45 Houston - Dallas expansion
Post by: Chris on August 14, 2018, 02:24:19 PM
Schematics of the I-45 widening through Huntsville can be found here: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/bryan/080918.html

It will be a six lane expansion, though a portion of the project includes collector lanes for a total of 2+3+3+2 lanes plus frontage roads.

There are also two dumbell roundabout interchanges planned:

(https://i.imgur.com/KnXpIZ4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Xa3gV4P.jpg)
Title: Re: I-45 Houston - Dallas expansion
Post by: US 89 on August 14, 2018, 07:26:11 PM
Are the Texas turnarounds really necessary, since the u-turn movement is effectively built into the roundabout?

And not that it really matters, but those are dogbone interchanges, not dumbbells. Dumbbells have two separate roundabouts on either side; dogbones combine them into what is essentially one big roundabout squished in the middle (which looks like a dog bone).
Title: Re: I-45 Houston - Dallas expansion
Post by: MaxConcrete on August 14, 2018, 07:37:40 PM
I'm disappointed to see that the wide median (mostly grass with some trees) north of Huntsville will get paved over and wiped out. It seems to me they could have easily widened the existing roadway and preserved the median space for scenic qualities.
Title: Re: I-45 Houston - Dallas expansion
Post by: Revive 755 on August 14, 2018, 09:20:47 PM
Quote from: Chris on August 14, 2018, 02:24:19 PM
Schematics of the I-45 widening through Huntsville can be found here: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/bryan/080918.html

I think Schematic 2a is the first time I've seen comma separated exit numbers on a BGS.
Title: Re: I-45 Houston - Dallas expansion
Post by: longhorn on August 15, 2018, 09:38:48 AM
Quote from: MaxConcrete on August 14, 2018, 07:37:40 PM
I'm disappointed to see that the wide median (mostly grass with some trees) north of Huntsville will get paved over and wiped out. It seems to me they could have easily widened the existing roadway and preserved the median space for scenic qualities.

Must be cheaper, and faster to fill in the median than expand from the shoulders out.
Title: Re: I-45 Houston - Dallas expansion
Post by: Bobby5280 on August 15, 2018, 01:10:34 PM
Paving in the median will allow installation of a stronger (and possibly taller) concrete Jersey barrier. Grassy medians typically have the cheaper cable barriers; I don't think those do as good a job as advertised of stopping cross over accidents. Using the median for expansion will leave the remaining outer room outside the main lanes for future expansion.