AARoads Forum

Regional Boards => Mid-South => Topic started by: longhorn on January 07, 2017, 10:04:31 PM

Title: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on January 07, 2017, 10:04:31 PM
Except for some work around Salado and Temple to Bruceville Eddy area, I-35 expansion is complete, and man what a difference. Better sight lines, and lesser elevation changes along with a much needed third lane (smart making all the overpasses ready for a fourth lane) makes the drive much less stressful.

I do not know if Waco is on the docket for a full rebuild with a fourth lane added in each direction as Temple is getting now. And it will be an engineering marvel to see how they replace the Adams street interchange AND keep it open at the same time. Who knew road engineering had increased so from the 1950s.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Bobby5280 on January 08, 2017, 01:44:22 AM
Some parts of I-35 on the North and South ends of Waco were upgraded from 2 lanes each direction to 3 just a few years ago. It would be a tight squeeze to fit in a 4th lane in each direction through the central part of Waco. Adding another lane while keeping existing frontage roads in place would result in some very short off ramps. Some bridges would have to be greatly modified or rebuilt. So much of this I-35 upgrade between Austin and the I-35E/I-35W split seems like a totally brand new highway.

I agree, the upgraded freeway is pretty nice. But it also makes me feel like I'm not really out of "the city" during a drive between the Dallas area and Austin.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Scott5114 on January 08, 2017, 03:36:41 AM
Imagine how you'd feel on the British motorway network...minimum standards require 3 lanes!
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: compdude787 on January 08, 2017, 04:10:13 AM
Three lanes is best for inter-city freeways that connect two large metro areas that are within 200 miles of each other and have lots of smaller towns along their route. That's definitely the case with I-5 between Seattle and Portland, which is mostly three lanes in each direction in most of its length and it certainly does feel rural to me. I typically imagine an urban freeway being anything more than three lanes in each direction. For that reason, I-90 between Issaquah and Snoqualmie Pass has always seemed a bit weird to me being four lanes in some of the uphill stretches. I'm used to seeing freeways be that wide in more urban areas.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Chris on January 08, 2017, 03:43:45 PM
Quote from: longhorn on January 07, 2017, 10:04:31 PMBetter sight lines, and lesser elevation changes along with a much needed third lane

Similar to I-35 between Waco and Hillsboro?

These photos were taken in 2015 shortly after completion of that stretch.


(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FJmR2aJp.jpg&hash=b3cf4e47fc6f42099fc3df01aa96c8a5e16309e9)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FuDPUkEn.jpg&hash=ba18ed9e031d5008df9726694284ff7d869972ee)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUq9Oc11.jpg&hash=301110e7d824d402b5e7d98c1b9a0b8abf56daa1)
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: wxfree on January 08, 2017, 05:10:44 PM
Quote from: Chris on January 08, 2017, 03:43:45 PM
Quote from: longhorn on January 07, 2017, 10:04:31 PMBetter sight lines, and lesser elevation changes along with a much needed third lane

Similar to I-35 between Waco and Hillsboro?

These photos were taken in 2015 shortly after completion of that stretch.
-photos removed-

The two areas are of similar design, and designed to high standards.  The photos severely exaggerate or completely make up the undulations due to the zooming effects.  Notice that the exit to Abbott is a mile away from the first sign, and then the next sign is for the exit.  There's a lot of distance in that photo.  The hill is noticeable, but you barely feel it at 75.  There's almost no curve at all before the hill.  Here's an aerial view of it.  https://goo.gl/maps/auGRJ38jbis (https://goo.gl/maps/auGRJ38jbis)  (The wild curve in the photo is the almost non-existent curve just north of the bridge near the bottom.)

Here's where it was discussed before.  https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=17052.0 (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=17052.0)  I said there "I've driven the entire stretch of new road both ways and never thought anything about the design except for how smooth it is."
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Marc on January 08, 2017, 11:46:34 PM
As of a few weeks ago, Salado is done. So really, the only two-lane stretch left is Temple to Bruceville-Eddy, but there's A LOT of work to be done there. My wife and I live in Round Rock and my folks live southwest of Waco. The Temple to Bruceville-Eddy stretch can easily take an 1hr 10min drive into a 2hr drive. Because of this, I use SH 317 to FM 2113 the vast majority of the time.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on January 09, 2017, 12:22:14 AM
Kudos to the construction team or teams that handled this major project. The speed at which it was done is pretty impressive. The most impressive feat is smoothing out of the elevations.

I agree Temple is a mess and will be for about a year. I wander if I35 between Belton and Temple be rebuilt using concrete since its Asphalt now but already three lanes wide in each direction.

On a side note, 190 (I-14) from I35 to Killeen is planned to be expanded to three lanes in each direction too.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Marc on January 21, 2017, 01:13:02 AM
Quote from: longhorn on January 09, 2017, 12:22:14 AM
I wander if I-35 between Belton and Temple be rebuilt using concrete since its Asphalt now but already three lanes wide in each direction.
I doubt it as they have recently applied a new layer of asphalt through the 190 interchange. The old asphalt and concrete sections through north Waco and Bellmead remained in place, so I wouldn't see why the Belton to Temple section would be redone.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Tom958 on March 05, 2017, 07:29:40 PM
I was just messing around on Streetview and found this fascinating item in Troy (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2065072,-97.3030268,3a,60y,341.13h,92.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCR-FMOA7Optp04j9AsWzoQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656): as of November 2016, it appears that the southbound roadway is to be elevated on a new viaduct while the northbound remains below grade on the legacy roadway. I'm curious about it, but not enough to try to find the answer on TxDOT's website. So, anybody here know what's supposed to happen there?
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Anthony_JK on March 05, 2017, 07:45:45 PM
Quote from: Tom958 on March 05, 2017, 07:29:40 PM
I was just messing around on Streetview and found this fascinating item in Troy (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2065072,-97.3030268,3a,60y,341.13h,92.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCR-FMOA7Optp04j9AsWzoQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656): as of November 2016, it appears that the southbound roadway is to be elevated on a new viaduct while the northbound remains below grade on the legacy roadway. I'm curious about it, but not enough to try to find the answer on TxDOT's website. So, anybody here know what's supposed to happen there?

It may be that they are building the southbound viaduct first, then it will serve as a temporary 2x2 facility while they reconstruct the northbound roadway as a similar viaduct over Main Street. Standard procedure with converting underpasses to overpasses in Texas, I figure.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Tom958 on March 05, 2017, 08:25:21 PM
Quote from: Anthony_JK on March 05, 2017, 07:45:45 PMIt may be that they are building the southbound viaduct first, then it will serve as a temporary 2x2 facility while they reconstruct the northbound roadway as a similar viaduct over Main Street. Standard procedure with converting underpasses to overpasses in Texas, I figure.

Could be, but it seems like a stretch to either fill in or bridge over such a deep depression. OTOH, the side of the retained fill looks very temporary.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Brian556 on March 05, 2017, 10:09:40 PM
Quote from Tom958:
QuoteI was just messing around on Streetview and found this fascinating item in Troy: as of November 2016, it appears that the southbound roadway is to be elevated on a new viaduct while the northbound remains below grade on the legacy roadway. I'm curious about it, but not enough to try to find the answer on TxDOT's website. So, anybody here know what's supposed to happen there?

That's like I-35 @ Cesar Chavez in Austin:
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2621406,-97.7361673,3a,75y,202.91h,90.6t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0UOlHqwDqYG69YgrmO-XHg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D0UOlHqwDqYG69YgrmO-XHg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D3.5865347%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2621406,-97.7361673,3a,75y,202.91h,90.6t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0UOlHqwDqYG69YgrmO-XHg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3D0UOlHqwDqYG69YgrmO-XHg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D3.5865347%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Henry on March 06, 2017, 10:14:48 AM
All I can say is, holy shit! :o
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on March 06, 2017, 10:16:14 AM
Quote from: Tom958 on March 05, 2017, 07:29:40 PM
I was just messing around on Streetview and found this fascinating item in Troy (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2065072,-97.3030268,3a,60y,341.13h,92.01t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCR-FMOA7Optp04j9AsWzoQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656): as of November 2016, it appears that the southbound roadway is to be elevated on a new viaduct while the northbound remains below grade on the legacy roadway. I'm curious about it, but not enough to try to find the answer on TxDOT's website. So, anybody here know what's supposed to happen there?

http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/my35/wac/fliers/3a1.pdf

Once the new bridge is complete, I -35 will move to it, and the "trench" will be filled in and the north bound bridge built in its place. Its the method that's been many times in the reconstruction of I-35. That trench in Troy floods everytime there is a heavy rain storm, and causes backups. I will be glad when its finally gone, talk about a relic from the 60s.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on March 06, 2017, 10:23:23 AM
https://www.google.com/maps/@31.1017006,-97.3599235,3a,75y,336.86h,81.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sG047Ywfkp6_6gfP8ZUUJgg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I saw this weekend in Temple at the Adams interchange rebuild, the southbound lanes have been moved the new concrete surface.

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0957661,-97.3697891,3a,75y,261.8h,64.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4KYimv9NraSqrqapmcV0Aw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

This viaduct in Temple will be sunken beneath grade, how TxDot does that and keep I-35 flowing will be interesting.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on March 06, 2017, 10:25:20 AM
Quote from: compdude787 on January 08, 2017, 04:10:13 AM
Three lanes is best for inter-city freeways that connect two large metro areas that are within 200 miles of each other and have lots of smaller towns along their route. That's definitely the case with I-5 between Seattle and Portland, which is mostly three lanes in each direction in most of its length and it certainly does feel rural to me. I typically imagine an urban freeway being anything more than three lanes in each direction. For that reason, I-90 between Issaquah and Snoqualmie Pass has always seemed a bit weird to me being four lanes in some of the uphill stretches. I'm used to seeing freeways be that wide in more urban areas.

Why would it be four lanes wide, truck climbing lanes?
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: compdude787 on March 06, 2017, 03:32:45 PM
Quote from: longhorn on March 06, 2017, 10:25:20 AM
Quote from: compdude787 on January 08, 2017, 04:10:13 AM
Three lanes is best for inter-city freeways that connect two large metro areas that are within 200 miles of each other and have lots of smaller towns along their route. That's definitely the case with I-5 between Seattle and Portland, which is mostly three lanes in each direction in most of its length and it certainly does feel rural to me. I typically imagine an urban freeway being anything more than three lanes in each direction. For that reason, I-90 between Issaquah and Snoqualmie Pass has always seemed a bit weird to me being four lanes in some of the uphill stretches. I'm used to seeing freeways be that wide in more urban areas.

Why would it be four lanes wide, truck climbing lanes?

Yes, the four lane sections of I-90 are indeed truck climbing lanes.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Tom958 on March 06, 2017, 05:35:51 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on March 05, 2017, 10:09:40 PMThat's like I-35 @ Cesar Chavez in Austin:

Indeed it is. That's part of where my guess came from.


Quote from: longhorn
http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/my35/wac/fliers/3a1.pdf

Once the new bridge is complete, I -35 will move to it, and the "trench" will be filled in and the north bound bridge built in its place. It's the method that's been many times in the reconstruction of I-35. That trench in Troy floods every time there is a heavy rain storm, and causes backups. I will be glad when its finally gone, talk about a relic from the 60s.

Thanks for the link!

Actually, according to http://uglybridges.com/1529501, it was completed in 1957. It's fair to say that this highway dates from the pre-Interstate era, with some bridges dating from 1954 and some culverts earlier than that.

I had the pleasure of driving from Atlanta to Austin by way of Tyler and Waco last summer, and while my impression of Texas highways had been one of modern megastructures, I was pleasantly amazed by the more modest and seemingly meticulously engineered structures of the past. In most states, the highway agency decides on a few certain ways of doing things and implements them cookie-cutter style all over the place, but Texas displayed a lot of diversity. I hope someone's photographing the old stuff before it's gone, even the crappy hole that floods in Troy.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: dfwmapper on March 06, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
TxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: compdude787 on March 07, 2017, 02:57:03 AM
Quote from: dfwmapper on March 06, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
TxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

Even though they all use the same design, those stack interchanges are pretty unique compared to most other stack interchanges, as the right-turning ramps are really close to the center of the interchange and are completely inside the left-turning ramps, whereas most stack interchanges place the right-turning ramps outside the left-turning ramps and further away from the center of the interchange.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: J N Winkler on March 07, 2017, 06:26:07 AM
Quote from: dfwmapper on March 06, 2017, 08:28:29 PMTxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

In road enthusiast circles those have traditionally been called the "cookie-cutter stacks," but I think I have also seen them called the "pylon stacks" because of the center columns (which are explicitly labelled as "pylons" in the construction plans I have seen, notably for I-20/US 67).
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Bobby5280 on March 07, 2017, 01:06:18 PM
Quote from: dfwmapperTxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

All of those interchanges along the South side of Dallas are pretty old, built at a time when most freeway to freeway interchanges elsewhere in the country were ordinary cloverleaf interchanges. Across the rest of the world direct connect flyover stack interchanges are still very rare. I think TX DOT didn't start making bridge columns decorative until the late 1990's. The stack interchanges at TX-190/PGBT & I-35E and TX-190/PGBT & US-75 have fairly generic bridge structures and those were built in the 1990's. They just started using slightly less drab color schemes.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Brian556 on March 07, 2017, 01:15:31 PM
Quote from compdude787:
QuoteEven though they all use the same design, those stack interchanges are pretty unique compared to most other stack interchanges, as the right-turning ramps are really close to the center of the interchange and are completely inside the left-turning ramps, whereas most stack interchanges place the right-turning ramps outside the left-turning ramps and further away from the center of the interchange.

I've always dislike this because it feels counterintuitive
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: jlwm on March 07, 2017, 03:32:51 PM
Quote from: compdude787 on March 07, 2017, 02:57:03 AM
Quote from: dfwmapper on March 06, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
TxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

Even though they all use the same design, those stack interchanges are pretty unique compared to most other stack interchanges, as the right-turning ramps are really close to the center of the interchange and are completely inside the left-turning ramps, whereas most stack interchanges place the right-turning ramps outside the left-turning ramps and further away from the center of the interchange.

That must have been the preferred design of the day from TxDOT. The four level stack US59 Eastex and I-610 interchange in Houston used to be like that until a few ramps were reconstructed in the mid 90s. The current I-610 EB to SH 288SB ramp is like that. Both four level stack interchanges were built around the same period, the US59 Eastex/I-610 interchange was completed in 1979 and the SH288/I-610 interchange in 1980. They were built a bit later than the ones in Dallas, but they were probably inspired by the Dallas cookie-cutter stacks.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: compdude787 on March 07, 2017, 03:35:21 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on March 07, 2017, 01:15:31 PM
Quote from compdude787:
QuoteEven though they all use the same design, those stack interchanges are pretty unique compared to most other stack interchanges, as the right-turning ramps are really close to the center of the interchange and are completely inside the left-turning ramps, whereas most stack interchanges place the right-turning ramps outside the left-turning ramps and further away from the center of the interchange.

I've always dislike this because it feels counterintuitive

I agree. It does seem counterintuitive. I get why they did it that way, to reduce the land needed, but from the perspective of a driver, it is a bit counterintuitive.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on March 08, 2017, 09:34:38 AM
Quote from: jlwm on March 07, 2017, 03:32:51 PM
Quote from: compdude787 on March 07, 2017, 02:57:03 AM
Quote from: dfwmapper on March 06, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
TxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

Even though they all use the same design, those stack interchanges are pretty unique compared to most other stack interchanges, as the right-turning ramps are really close to the center of the interchange and are completely inside the left-turning ramps, whereas most stack interchanges place the right-turning ramps outside the left-turning ramps and further away from the center of the interchange.

That must have been the preferred design of the day from TxDOT. The four level stack US59 Eastex and I-610 interchange in Houston used to be like that until a few ramps were reconstructed in the mid 90s. The current I-610 EB to SH 288SB ramp is like that. Both four level stack interchanges were built around the same period, the US59 Eastex/I-610 interchange was completed in 1979 and the SH288/I-610 interchange in 1980. They were built a bit later than the ones in Dallas, but they were probably inspired by the Dallas cookie-cutter stacks.

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=19486.0

I-35 at I-20.

I wander if sharing the center column like that saves money. It is a compact design land area wise.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on March 08, 2017, 09:39:39 AM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on March 07, 2017, 01:06:18 PM
Quote from: dfwmapperTxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

All of those interchanges along the South side of Dallas are pretty old, built at a time when most freeway to freeway interchanges elsewhere in the country were ordinary cloverleaf interchanges. Across the rest of the world direct connect flyover stack interchanges are still very rare. I think TX DOT didn't start making bridge columns decorative until the late 1990's. The stack interchanges at TX-190/PGBT & I-35E and TX-190/PGBT & US-75 have fairly generic bridge structures and those were built in the 1990's. They just started using slightly less drab color schemes.

Yeah, TxDot has come along way in design and aesthetics.

US75  and GB Tollway

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.0119955,-96.8290441,3a,90y,353.87h,94.83t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saV62AzXPxhnYIpCqyn9aOw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DaV62AzXPxhnYIpCqyn9aOw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D58.754543%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I-610 and I-10

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7822751,-95.4532108,3a,75y,163.01h,91.14t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sn3YdgrZExEE9C1gqKzMnAA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dn3YdgrZExEE9C1gqKzMnAA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D171.33842%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: dfwmapper on March 09, 2017, 11:34:27 PM
Quote from: compdude787 on March 07, 2017, 03:35:21 PM
I agree. It does seem counterintuitive. I get why they did it that way, to reduce the land needed, but from the perspective of a driver, it is a bit counterintuitive.
Those old designs don't save land. What they do save is the cost of building bridges or embankments to support those right turn ramps, since they're directly on the surface instead of the other style (e.g. US 75/PGBT) where the right turns are elevated. The biggest downside is that it makes it difficult/expensive to work that design into a 5-level interchange to allow continuous frontage roads for both freeways, although it can be done, like at the I-30/PGBT West interchange (ignore the N->E movement).
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: Gnutella on March 10, 2017, 01:00:56 AM
Quote from: Chris on January 08, 2017, 03:43:45 PM
Quote from: longhorn on January 07, 2017, 10:04:31 PMBetter sight lines, and lesser elevation changes along with a much needed third lane

Similar to I-35 between Waco and Hillsboro?

These photos were taken in 2015 shortly after completion of that stretch.


(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FJmR2aJp.jpg&hash=b3cf4e47fc6f42099fc3df01aa96c8a5e16309e9)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FuDPUkEn.jpg&hash=ba18ed9e031d5008df9726694284ff7d869972ee)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUq9Oc11.jpg&hash=301110e7d824d402b5e7d98c1b9a0b8abf56daa1)

DAAAM!

I wish I-35 in Texas was like that when I drove it in 2008. What a slog of a drive that was.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: sparker on March 10, 2017, 05:45:04 PM
Quote from: compdude787 on March 07, 2017, 03:35:21 PM
Quote from: Brian556 on March 07, 2017, 01:15:31 PM
Quote from compdude787:
QuoteEven though they all use the same design, those stack interchanges are pretty unique compared to most other stack interchanges, as the right-turning ramps are really close to the center of the interchange and are completely inside the left-turning ramps, whereas most stack interchanges place the right-turning ramps outside the left-turning ramps and further away from the center of the interchange.

I've always dislike this because it feels counterintuitive

I agree. It does seem counterintuitive. I get why they did it that way, to reduce the land needed, but from the perspective of a driver, it is a bit counterintuitive.

The I-10/I-15 interchange in Ontario, CA is a hybrid of that type and conventional: 2 directions with the left movement diverging prior to the right, and 2 conventional, with a split ramp system.  As it was opened to traffic in 1979, most of the surrounding industrial area hadn't been built yet (I worked a couple of blocks away for several years, and the building I was in was built in '84).  It seems that the EB I-10 to NB I-15 movement (essentially LA-Vegas) used the left-before-right approach to take the ostensibly largest volume of turning traffic off -- with the accompanying last-minute lane switches -- well prior to the rest of the interchange.  The other L-before-R direction, SB 15 to EB 10, seemed to be done to save room for the then-proposed Ontario Mills mall, which abuts the NW corner of the interchange. 
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: jlwm on March 11, 2017, 12:01:24 AM
Quote from: longhorn on March 08, 2017, 09:39:39 AM
Quote from: Bobby5280 on March 07, 2017, 01:06:18 PM
Quote from: dfwmapperTxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

All of those interchanges along the South side of Dallas are pretty old, built at a time when most freeway to freeway interchanges elsewhere in the country were ordinary cloverleaf interchanges. Across the rest of the world direct connect flyover stack interchanges are still very rare. I think TX DOT didn't start making bridge columns decorative until the late 1990's. The stack interchanges at TX-190/PGBT & I-35E and TX-190/PGBT & US-75 have fairly generic bridge structures and those were built in the 1990's. They just started using slightly less drab color schemes.

Yeah, TxDot has come along way in design and aesthetics.

US75  and GB Tollway

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.0119955,-96.8290441,3a,90y,353.87h,94.83t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saV62AzXPxhnYIpCqyn9aOw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DaV62AzXPxhnYIpCqyn9aOw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D58.754543%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

I-610 and I-10

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7822751,-95.4532108,3a,75y,163.01h,91.14t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sn3YdgrZExEE9C1gqKzMnAA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3Dn3YdgrZExEE9C1gqKzMnAA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D171.33842%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

The I-610 and I-10 interchange is in the Horizontal Scheme. The Houston District uses Regional Urban Design Schemes depending on where the roadway is. Anything south of 290 and pretty much west of 288, and all interchanges regardless of location use the Horizontal Scheme to represent prairie. Any road north of 290 and north of I-10 the 610 West Loop to the Chambers Co. line uses the Vertical scheme to represent the Piney Woods, and anything south of I-10 from Chambers Co. to US59 and east of 59 and 288 is in the Wave Scheme to represent the coastal areas. The San Antonio District has similar themes using Mission and Hill Country themes, as does Austin. It's a nice touch on what would otherwise be drab looking infrastructure. I don't know if Dallas uses themes. It looks like each project there gets its own unique theme rather than a region based theme.

You can read more about it here: http://www.ncampo.org/documents/TRB_2014-09-08_1330-1_Beeson.pdf
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on March 20, 2017, 09:48:05 AM
At Temple Texas, completion is set for 2019.

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0953673,-97.3711463,3a,60y,269.83h,68.2t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shwq2ebulra_sTMP1nRawfg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Drove on the new and moved access road in the pic this weekend, the trench for the southbound lanes are almost done.

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0979975,-97.3640324,3a,75y,258.27h,63.4t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1svyconTSlwcEMPYL2nGrJ6g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Southbound traffic is already using the new concrete till Adams/Central exit. I guess they will move the traffic over to the new access road bridge temporarily so they can deconstruct the present southbound lanes section of the bridge.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on May 12, 2017, 09:57:03 AM
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Temple,+TX/@31.0955499,-97.3705205,3a,60y,49.83h,71.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgua5y72qz1tsltitDAlqlQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!4m5!3m4!1s0x8645426f971492a5:0x2f4c2e069936cb64!8m2!3d31.0982344!4d-97.342782

The southbound I-35 lane has been moved off the bridge into the ditch.

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0948191,-97.3731044,3a,75y,259h,76.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seDgHYDne0r8Au4u_dKIVJw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: sparker on May 12, 2017, 10:38:42 PM
Quote from: jlwm on March 07, 2017, 03:32:51 PM
Quote from: compdude787 on March 07, 2017, 02:57:03 AM
Quote from: dfwmapper on March 06, 2017, 08:28:29 PM
TxDOT is more than capable of cookie-cutter designs. Just look at the stacks at I-20@US 67, I-20@I-35E, I-20@I-45, I-20@US 175, I-635@US 80, and I-635@I-30, which are all damn near the same design (check street view on the bottom level and notice the giant center column that supports all 4 left-turn ramps).

Even though they all use the same design, those stack interchanges are pretty unique compared to most other stack interchanges, as the right-turning ramps are really close to the center of the interchange and are completely inside the left-turning ramps, whereas most stack interchanges place the right-turning ramps outside the left-turning ramps and further away from the center of the interchange.

That must have been the preferred design of the day from TxDOT. The four level stack US59 Eastex and I-610 interchange in Houston used to be like that until a few ramps were reconstructed in the mid 90s. The current I-610 EB to SH 288SB ramp is like that. Both four level stack interchanges were built around the same period, the US59 Eastex/I-610 interchange was completed in 1979 and the SH288/I-610 interchange in 1980. They were built a bit later than the ones in Dallas, but they were probably inspired by the Dallas cookie-cutter stacks.

The idea was to squeeze a stack into as little real estate as possible to avoid (a) having to engage in any more eminent domain activity than absolutely necessary and (b) reduce property acquisition expenditure.  Obviously, when these designs were modified in the ensuing years, such considerations had been relegated to a lesser priority.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on May 17, 2017, 11:27:45 PM
Part of the I35 viaduct is coming down.

http://www.tdtnews.com/news/article_dc484294-3aa4-11e7-8bd9-8730e766c891.html?mode=jqm
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on January 02, 2018, 12:16:49 PM
Went through Temple on I-35 and the progress they have made is impressive. The long bridge.............errrr.........."Aqueduct" is now torn down and both north and southbound lanes are in the trench. I imagine this will significantly speed up the rebuidling process through Temple since now the construction crews and concentrate on completing the northbound side. I believe construction through Temple was suppose to be completed this summer or fall.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: longhorn on January 02, 2018, 12:22:22 PM
And one more thing, those who are familiar with the old 35 through Troy. What I used to call the " the bat tunnel", a relic from the 1960s engineering and always flooded when it rainED is gone. Both lanes have moved to the new southbound bridge.

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.2066675,-97.3031366,3a,75y,39.11h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-g_mU0bUXuZgcFihran3Iw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That bridge is incredibly strong. Like the I-35 long bridge in Temple that per the engineer words," did not want to come down, it was built to last". This bridge in Troy has been hit sooooo many times, its amazing its in as good shape as it was. They is some thing to that saying, "they do not build them like they use too."
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: kphoger on January 02, 2018, 12:26:58 PM
Cool to see it coming along.  I gave up on I-35 through Texas back in 2014, so I haven't seen any of the construction firsthand since then.  Every time I would drive through Temple, I would think to myself, How the heck are they going to make this work?  And I thought the same thing about Troy.
Title: Re: I-35 expansion project almost done
Post by: MaxConcrete on August 16, 2018, 09:46:39 PM
Yesterday I drove from Salado (South of Temple) to Waco.

All work is complete south of Loop 363 in Temple.

In Temple, work is substantially complete and looks like it should be done within 6 months.

North of Temple to Bruceville-Eddy, work is nearly complete, with only final work like the median barrier and restriping to be done. However, there is still major work to be done at Bruceville-Eddy, probably 6-months of work.

North of Bruceville-Eddy to Waco, it is complete.

Completed sections have a nice roomy feel.

But the $304 million expansion in Waco is slated to begin in 2019.
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2019/mclennan.htm#001501243 (http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/let/2019/mclennan.htm#001501243)

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20180815-0120-1600.jpg&hash=82ba3c85fdf44bcd040cf100da59ba9d15f58a68)
Completed section just south of Lorena (south of Temple)


(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20180815-0132-1600.jpg&hash=7bb3f289350f27d604185740017326489e28c66c)
Exit to I-14

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20180815-0112-1600.jpg&hash=500e62b748c4bbac2b03a64281c8c8c192f8743f)
Work in progress nearing completion in Temple

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20180815-0152-1600.jpg&hash=a41db25292ec68a14281a371ca8618106137fd76)
Between Temple and Bruceville-Eddy, much of it is done but not yet striped for 3 lanes. This shows a typical configuration with wide separation between the main lanes and frontage roads, which are continuous.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20180815-0156-1600.jpg&hash=f17f30fc7753f675c27897c8fe3fe9231a69e9fb)
This is at Bruceville-Eddy, the spot which will probably take the longest to finish, maybe 6 months.