I-30 Canyon Project(Dallas)

[Plutonic Panda]

I feel like this project is large enough to warrant its own thread. I-30 will be widened, reconstructed, and realigned in some areas. This project seems somewhat similar to Denver's I-70 project. There will be potential for park caps in some areas though that won't be initially constructed.

Here's a PDF report: https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/dal/i-30-canyon/102919-i-30-canyon-pm-powerpoint-presentation.pdf

Some recent news regarding funding from Biden's infrastructure funds(the program that replaced BUILD): https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2021/04/txdot-hopes-bidens-transit-priorities-are-good-news-for-its-i-30-canyon-project/

[Plutonic Panda]

Project website: https://www.i30project.org/about-the-project/

[MaxConcrete]

There was a public meeting earlier this year for the environmental clearance of the downtown canyon project. Link below includes schematics

http://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/public-hearings/2021/notice-of-availability-environmental-clearance-approved-schematic-available-pub

The link below says "The project has an anticipated letting date in February 2024" which unfortunately is still three years away. Most TxDOT projects have been delayed due to Covid-related funding shortfalls.
https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/dallas/012921.html

There appears to be no organized opposition to the downtown canyon work. I'm thinking the bidding date could be advanced to be sooner if TxDOT's financial situation improves.

However, all work to the east has opposition and probably won't happen anytime soon, and by that I mean not in the 2020s. A new tactic used by anti-freeway interests in Houston and Dallas is to block right-of-way acquisition, which makes expansion impossible or much more expensive. The City of Dallas is trying to prevent any right-of-way acquisition on IH-30 east project.

[MaxConcrete]

However, all work to the east has opposition and probably won't happen anytime soon, and by that I mean not in the 2020s. A new tactic used by anti-freeway interests in Houston and Dallas is to block right-of-way acquisition, which makes expansion impossible or much more expensive. The City of Dallas is trying to prevent any right-of-way acquisition on IH-30 east project.

My comment in April may be wrong. TxDOT has scheduled a public meeting for the first section of IH-30 east of IH-45.
https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/dallas/060821.html

The proposed improvements would include ten general purpose lanes (five in each direction), two reversible managed lanes, discontinuous two to three lane frontage roads in each direction, and reconstruction of ramps and bridge structures. The proposed I-30 main lanes and managed lanes would be depressed from I-345/I-45 to Dolphin Road. Accommodations for bicycle and pedestrian travel along the project corridor are a component of project development.

The proposed Right of Way typically ranges from 308 to 505 feet in width. The proposed improvements would require additional ROW.

Observations

• The planned design remains 5-2M-5. (The freeway is currently 4-1M-4) So it appears TxDOT has worked out differences with the City of Dallas.
• Consistent with longstanding plans, the elevated lanes will be sunk below ground level.
• I think the frontage roads were originally planned to be continuous, but are now listed as discontinuous
• While the meeting announcement says additional ROW will be required, I'm expecting it to be minimal. Curtailing frontage roads will probably be the main way to reduce ROW requirements.

[bwana39]

There were originally partial service roads in the canyon, they were mostly subsumed as exit lanes for the Horseshoe project. The service roads never had a lot of usage before they were repurposed.

There were a handful of exits and entrances, but they were awkward at best. As a quick point to make, Most of the roadway is 10 or more feet below ground level residing in a man-made canyon....therefore the name.

My belief is the convention center does as much or more to interrupt downtown to the south than I-30.

[MaxConcrete]

The public meeting materials and schematics for the east corridor (east of IH-45) are posted online
http://www.keepitmovingdallas.com/I30EC

The good news is that the proposed design does not appear to be compromised from earlier designs. (I don't have a schematic of the preliminary design so I can't say for certain.)  It remains a very ambitious design.

There are numerous property acquisitions and displacements required, but virtually all of them are vacant lots, parking lots or lower-tier commercial properties. Just like the Southern Gateway (IH-35E south) and LBJ east projects currently under construction, the right-of-way along much of the corridor is maxed out with pavement with virtually no space to spare.

Frontage roads are added, but they are not continuous.

The presentation says construction could begin in Fall 2024, which would be an ambitious schedule, dependent on funding and no major opposition or legal challenges.

[In_Correct]

But they simply must be continuous.

[Road Hog]

Woodall was shut down for an accident, so I used the canyon to cut across from I-35E to 75 the other day for the first time.

Holy cow, what a rat's nest of lanes and merges. Fixing that is way, way worth it.

[bwana39]

Woodall was shut down for an accident, so I used the canyon to cut across from I-35E to 75 the other day for the first time.

Holy cow, what a rat's nest of lanes and merges. Fixing that is way, way worth it.

I am not sure that this project will help your particular concern at all. It appears the canyon will become narrower and perhaps deeper.  More of the surface streets above will be through. It is about connecting the area between  I-30 and the Trinity River with downtown. I am not sure it is going to do much to aleviate anything in the realm of freeway traffic

[Plutonic Panda]

It looks like this project or part of it is eligible for financing through the INFRA extra program from 2019 submissions. I wonder if Texas pursued it and maybe that'll speed it up.

[austrini]

It looks like this project or part of it is eligible for financing through the INFRA extra program from 2019 submissions. I wonder if Texas pursued it and maybe that'll speed it up.

Hey I worked on this (on the maps)! We applied in May of 2021 for 146 million out of 564 million. The original freeway section opened in April of 1966. The city wants it capped, and they're applying for another grant to do that, I think.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^ hopefully this new infrastructure package passes. I bet getting it capped will be a sure thing with the new funding meant to reconnect communities that were divided by freeway construction.

[Plutonic Panda]

On the note of park caps, OKC had one proposed that is essentially scaled back to a glorified bridge widening over I-235. I hope that too can be considered with the infrastructure package if it passes.

[bwana39]

https://ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-involved/dal/i-30-canyon/102919-i-30-canyon-pm-powerpoint-presentation.pdf

There was talk about this on another thread. Just dropped it here. Someone else may already have.

[MaxConcrete]

Newly posted video on the TxDOT site focusing on the 4.4 mile section of I-30 east of I-45/345
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLpvtaaXpxk

The expansion of the existing Canyon, from I-35 to I-45, is currently listed to start in 2024 with a cost of $544 million.
page 67: https://www.nctcog.org/getmedia/c99bfc4f-5a07-4af7-bdc4-5c4e3fbf687e/public-meeting-march-14,-2022.pdf.aspx

The end of the video suggests work on the east section featured in the video could start soon as fall 2024, although it probably would be somewhat later.
The delay of NHHIP in Houston should make available funds which could potentially be redirected to this project.  I think it is possible and likely that both these projects will start construction before any construction starts on NHHIP (if any part of NHHIP moves forward.)

[MaxConcrete]

Bids were opened today for the long-awaited major reconstruction of I-30 in downtown Dallas between I-35E and I-45.

This job will convert the 2-3-3-2 freeway, which operates inefficiently, to 6x6 with a 7x7 section including auxiliary lanes.

The estimated cost has gone up and up over the years, to $795.3 million.

The winning bid was by Balfour Beatty, $888.7 million, 11.7% over estimate

The only other bidder was Webber at $957.1 million.

As usual for these big projects, a high and over-estimate price is the new reality. A possible major cost factor is the railroad and DART rail bridges at the west end of the project. I'm assuming both will need a temporary shoo fly bridge over I-30.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is this the entire canyon project or just part of it?

[MaxConcrete]

Is this the entire canyon project or just part of it?

Yes, it's the entire project.

Except it does not include any decks for future deck parks. It probably includes footings for the future deck parks.

The project does not include a new interchange at I-45. That was never part of the Canyon project. It is part of the future I-345 replacement.

[Plutonic Panda]

Is this the entire canyon project or just part of it?

Yes, it's the entire project.

Except it does not include any decks for future deck parks. It probably includes footings for the future deck parks.

The project does not include a new interchange at I-45. That was never part of the Canyon project. It is part of the future I-345 replacement.

Oh, I got it OK. For some reason, I thought this was gonna be billion+ dollar project. I hope the I-345 project is on track. To your knowledge has Dallas allocated any money to the cap? I think they even scaled back the Klyde Warren Park a bit and canceled the subway so Dallas doesn't seem too flush with cash these days.

[bwana39]

Is this the entire canyon project or just part of it?

Yes, it's the entire project.

Except it does not include any decks for future deck parks. It probably includes footings for the future deck parks.

The project does not include a new interchange at I-45. That was never part of the Canyon project. It is part of the future I-345 replacement.

Oh, I got it OK. For some reason, I thought this was gonna be billion+ dollar project. I hope the I-345 project is on track. To your knowledge has Dallas allocated any money to the cap? I think they even scaled back the Klyde Warren Park a bit and canceled the subway so Dallas doesn't seem too flush with cash these days.

Well over a billion IF you add the caps. The caps may eventually happen. but they may not.

[05danper42842]

According to the Texas Clear Lanes Project. I-30 Canyon Project has a Timeline from 2025-2029[1].
It would been nicer if it started much earlier so it could go at par with same speed with the KBHCCD Convention Center Project that will fully reconstruct the convention center and is surrounding area such as local streets and properties. Would be nice if a render or a video of how it would look like completed was shared in YouTube.

[1] https://www.txdot.gov/texasclearlanes/projects/dallas.html

[bwana39]

Bids were opened today for the long-awaited major reconstruction of I-30 in downtown Dallas between I-35E and I-45.

This job will convert the 2-3-3-2 freeway, which operates inefficiently, to 6x6 with a 7x7 section including auxiliary lanes.

The estimated cost has gone up and up over the years, to $795.3 million.

The winning bid was by Balfour Beatty, $888.7 million, 11.7% over estimate

The only other bidder was Webber at $957.1 million.

As usual for these big projects, a high and over-estimate price is the new reality. A possible major cost factor is the railroad and DART rail bridges at the west end of the project. I'm assuming both will need a temporary shoo fly bridge over I-30.

The plan for the railroad bridge was to SHift the tracks westward on the current bridge structure and demo the eastern section and build the replacement. This bridge was originally built for 6 to 8 tracks. Currently there are three. There would be speed restrictions, but those already exist.

I still think the biggest irony is the so-called connectivity will be LESS unless the caps are built than there is now.

[05danper42842]

Would been much better if I-30 had more potential caps locations. Such as full cap covering entire I-30 from South Ervay Street to South Harwood Street. That would fully reconnect Old City Park with the Dallas Farmers Market.

[bwana39]

Would been much better if I-30 had more potential caps locations. Such as full cap covering entire I-30 from South Ervay Street to South Harwood Street. That would fully reconnect Old City Park with the Dallas Farmers Market.

OK. the Farmer's Market as we knew it is gone for SEVERAL years....

[05danper42842]

I noticed that I35E SB Traffic headed towards I30 EB still have to merge one or two lanes to across traffic. But still better than the current situation right now which is 2 lane traffic funneled down into one lane exit.