DFW: US 380 project to feature quasi-freeway section

[MaxConcrete]

http://www.dot.state.tx.us/insdtdot/orgchart/cmd/cserve/bidtab/11043001.htm

US 380 from McKinney to Denton, going east-west across the far north suburbs, is being widened and the section from west of the Dallas North Tollway to east of Preston Road will be a freeway-type facility with frontage roads on a 300-foot-wide right-of-way. However, the main lanes will not be built to freeway standards and will have curbs with no shoulders. There will be a median but I don't see a barrier in the schematics. To see the layout from the construction plans, download the zip file below.

http://oscarmail.net/photos/20141108_us_380_schematics.zip

My general feeling is that US 380 should have been designated as a freeway, but of course in North Texas that means it would be a tollway. The Collin County Outer Loop toll road is planned to run parallel to US 380 about six miles north. http://www.co.collin.tx.us/mobility/Documents/outer_loop/OuterLoopOverview.pdf

So overall this is a good result - the section of US 380 which will be busiest in the future as that region urbanizes will be a toll-free, near-freeway facility.

 

[-NCX75-]

I like this idea. Make US-380 a 'parkway/business route' to the Outer Loop, but make it easier to traverse too. Of course, the Outer Loop is probably a long way off (no need for it yet IMO), so this will be great standalone as well.

[Brian556]

I've always thought they should've preserved ROW for a future freeway between Denton and McKinney. Having all those signals is horrible, especially with the high-speed nature of the road, and all the trucks.

[Bobby5280]

I have some problems with them widening US-380 into a semi freeway kind of facility with curbs and no shoulders. What are motorists supposed to do if they need to pull over in case of an emergency or they get stopped by the highway patrol? Hop the curb into the grass or keep trying to drive to the nearest exit?

On the bright side, they'll have the right of way secured in case they want the road upgraded to Interstate standards in the future.

Meanwhile TX DOT ought to get to work securing ROW on US-380 between Decatur and Greenville (from US-287 to I-30). Long term that whole stretch of road will need to be a superhighway of some sort. Widen the road with a big median in the middle of it able to hold a future freeway or tollway.