Texas

[-- US 175 --]

On my currently ongoing trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I noticed this past Friday - on my drive back to my Airbnb in North Dallas from a concert at Billy Bob's in Fort Worth - that on State Highway 183 in Irving near DFW Airport, there were still many signs in Highway Gothic (FHWA Series E). Before I took my trip, I thought that every freeway guide sign in Texas had been replaced by Clearview at this point, what with it now having been used in the state for more than 20 years (incidentally, the first time that I ever saw Clearview was on the Central Expressway in Dallas on a 2004 visit) - guess I was mistaken. That made me wonder: where else in Texas have you seen Highway Gothic freeway signage that still hasn't been replaced by Clearview as of now (or at least some time in 2025)?

Even after a recent refresh/new-additions of Clearview on US 75 at and north of I-635, there is actually still 1 ground-based BGS, the one pointing to the ramp/exit at Churchill Way-Forest Ln. (SB, exit #20)

Another in the vicinity is the Coit Rd. exit (WB) on I-635.  This exit also has a leftover exit gore sign with the number tabbed above.

[wxfree]

Section 2A.08 in the new TMUTCD adopted in November says something about positive contrast signs using standard series alphabets.

All sign lettering, numerals, and other characters shall be of the Standard Alphabets as provided in the "Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas" publication (see Section 1A.05), unless otherwise provided in this Manual. Notwithstanding other provisions of this manual, positive contrast signs shall use Series B-, C-, D-, E-, E(modified)- or F-Alternate fonts as provided in the "Standard Highway Sign Designs for Texas" publication.

In the standard highway sign design manual, looking at examples of guide signs, it mainly specifies "E," I assume Series E, for negative contrast, dark letters, and "CV," I assume Clearview, for positive contrast (dark background).  There is some D and EM type, too, in negative contrast.

I don't know what to make of this.  In the meeting video, there was no discussion of the matter, just a standard uninformative presentation.  It seems to be saying one thing, to use standard alphabet fonts, while referring to a conflicting document, which specifies positive contrast Clearview.  1A.05 just refers to the highway sign design manual.

[Plutonic Panda]

A nice article about how Texas is investing almost $1 billion into the Galveston area highway network:

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/multiple-i-45-projects-continuing-in-galveston-county/70040

[Plutonic Panda]

An article about various Austin metropolitan area Road and transit projects:

https://communityimpact.com/austin/northwest-austin/transportation/2026/01/19/road-extensions-bike-lanes-toll-lanes-6-austin-metro-transportation-projects/?fbclid=IwdGRleAPc_LtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEepXRDhC4uAPTf5QBYdScqHdC5Q-S6k5eaTjvmRHqtW94xIO6kMZ-IWInzM-E_aem_olpcyB0WmyMqeHFYeSA4yA&utm_campaign=mrf-facebook-communityimpactatx&mrfcid=20260120696fe79b324a7d4db46aedad

[Henry]

A nice article about how Texas is investing almost $1 billion into the Galveston area highway network:

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/multiple-i-45-projects-continuing-in-galveston-county/70040

Well, since it's very close to Houston, those projects need to be worth every dollar of it.

[Plutonic Panda]

A nice article about how Texas is investing almost $1 billion into the Galveston area highway network:

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/multiple-i-45-projects-continuing-in-galveston-county/70040

Well, since it's very close to Houston, those projects need to be worth every dollar of it.

This is a great point and a good note. Hopefully there is much more to come for the freeways in the area.

[thenetwork]

I'm glad my wife's brother is getting out of Dallas/DFW tomorrow (Thursday).  for his little trip.

He's scheduled to return on Tuesday.  Hopefully the Metroplex will be open for business again by then.  This sounds like a doozy of a storm that's appoaching.

[bwana39]

Lots of Ice on the roads around texarkana.

[Bobby5280]

The situation isn't much better here in Southwest Oklahoma. Friday afternoon around 4:30pm the freezing rain started falling. Lots of vehicle accidents soon followed. I-44 at the Rogers Lane exit was shut down around 6:00pm due to a semi-truck getting jack-knifed across the main lanes.

[05danper42842]

Over here in North Texas ain't that bad is just the roads slippery due to constant rain and freezing cold temperatures. As of right now it started snowing more in the Mesquite area. Also I noticed one of the issues around here is that 18 wheelers getting stuck at the interchange ramps. It happened at I-635 and I-30 and also near the downtown Dallas.

[DJStephens]

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/hearings-meetings/abilene/2025/i20-sweetwater-from-loop170-to-near-fm1856.html

TxDOT is looking to improve I-20 within the Sweetwater area. Rebuilds I-20 to a 3x3 with one-way frontage roads.

I-20 needs a lot of work between Midland and Abilene from my experience. The ramp geometry and frontage road situation is dangerous in places. You see a lot of this.

The I-20 alignment either directly overlaid the older US 80 alignment, or closely paralleled it in most places in West Texas.  The frontage seen in the link above, may very well be the original US 80 roadbed, just the same, as it appeared in the early-mid fifties.   

[bwana39]

I-20 needs a lot of work between Midland and Abilene from my experience. The ramp geometry and frontage road situation is dangerous in places. You see a lot of this.

The I-20 alignment either directly overlaid the older US 80 alignment, or closely paralleled it in most places in West Texas.  The frontage seen in the link above, may very well be the original US 80 roadbed, just the same, as it appeared in the early-mid fifties.   

When I was in high school the old US-80 bed was just parallel to I-20 and I-10 in most of the rural areas from around Sweetwater to at least the Arizona Border.  It was narrow, lumpy and as a whole. unused.

[Bobby5280]

I always think of the sub-standard segments of I-10, I-20 and I-40 in West Texas when looking at other limited access corridors than can't get an Interstate shield due to issues with ramps or shoulders.

If the FHWA and AASHTO is going to be strict with standards on one highway they should do it to all of them. Rescind the Interstate designations until the roads are brought up to snuff. Toss up "Future" or "To" markers above the existing shields.

[ElishaGOtis]

I always think of the sub-standard segments of I-10, I-20 and I-40 in West Texas when looking at other limited access corridors than can't get an Interstate shield due to issues with ramps or shoulders.

If the FHWA and AASHTO is going to be strict with standards on one highway they should do it to all of them. Rescind the Interstate designations until the roads are brought up to snuff. Toss up "Future" or "To" markers above the existing shields.

Standards change tho 

[Bobby5280]

Standards on highway designs do change, but usually the standards don't move backwards.

And I say usually due to exceptions like those really shitty 11' wide lanes on certain highways in the DFW metro.

[wxfree]

The Brazoria County Toll Road Authority is building the Brazoria County Expressway extension.  Part of the agreement with TxDOT, for approval to use state right of way, since it's in the median of a state highway, is that the department will take over the road and maintain it without tolls after the bonds are paid.  I've never seen such an arrangement.  I've only heard about them in history, and it almost always turns out not to happen.  Ancient prophecy tells us to expect in the latter days detollings and rumors of detollings, but little evidence suggests that such a thing exists.  I don't know how binding this is or how likely it is to happen, but it's interesting to note that someone actually thought about it.

https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/commission/2026/0226/6.pdf

[-- US 175 --]

The Brazoria County Toll Road Authority is building the Brazoria County Expressway extension.  Part of the agreement with TxDOT, for approval to use state right of way, since it's in the median of a state highway which is to become frontage roads, is that the department will take over the road and maintain it without tolls after the bonds are paid.  I've never seen such an arrangement.  I've only heard about them in history, and it almost always turns out not to happen.  Ancient prophecy tells us to expect in the latter days detollings and rumors of detollings, but little evidence suggests that such a thing exists.  I don't know how binding this is or how likely it is to happen, but it's interesting to note that someone actually thought about it.

https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/commission/2026/0226/6.pdf

The DFW Turnpike was actually de-tolled and became part of I-30 in 1977-1978.

[wxfree]

The Brazoria County Toll Road Authority is building the Brazoria County Expressway extension.  Part of the agreement with TxDOT, for approval to use state right of way, since it's in the median of a state highway which is to become frontage roads, is that the department will take over the road and maintain it without tolls after the bonds are paid.  I've never seen such an arrangement.  I've only heard about them in history, and it almost always turns out not to happen.  Ancient prophecy tells us to expect in the latter days detollings and rumors of detollings, but little evidence suggests that such a thing exists.  I don't know how binding this is or how likely it is to happen, but it's interesting to note that someone actually thought about it.

https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/commission/2026/0226/6.pdf

The DFW Turnpike was actually de-tolled and became part of I-30 in 1977-1978.

That's the "little evidence" I referred to.  I was half-way joking, mocking the history of the promise being made and broken.  Maybe I'll live long enough to see whether it happens this time.

[CoreySamson]

The Brazoria County Toll Road Authority is building the Brazoria County Expressway extension.  Part of the agreement with TxDOT, for approval to use state right of way, since it's in the median of a state highway which is to become frontage roads, is that the department will take over the road and maintain it without tolls after the bonds are paid.  I've never seen such an arrangement.  I've only heard about them in history, and it almost always turns out not to happen.  Ancient prophecy tells us to expect in the latter days detollings and rumors of detollings, but little evidence suggests that such a thing exists.  I don't know how binding this is or how likely it is to happen, but it's interesting to note that someone actually thought about it.

https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/commission/2026/0226/6.pdf

Bolded part is not true. The current main lanes are not slated to become frontage roads. In fact, just last year they finished the freeway conversion of TX 288 from CR 60 to Croix Road.

This project (in conjunction with the Grand Parkway) will probably be the biggest road construction to happen in my neck of the woods for a long time. I wonder if BCTRA is doing both this and their section of the Grand Parkway simultaneously.

[wxfree]

The Brazoria County Toll Road Authority is building the Brazoria County Expressway extension.  Part of the agreement with TxDOT, for approval to use state right of way, since it's in the median of a state highway which is to become frontage roads, is that the department will take over the road and maintain it without tolls after the bonds are paid.  I've never seen such an arrangement.  I've only heard about them in history, and it almost always turns out not to happen.  Ancient prophecy tells us to expect in the latter days detollings and rumors of detollings, but little evidence suggests that such a thing exists.  I don't know how binding this is or how likely it is to happen, but it's interesting to note that someone actually thought about it.

https://www.txdot.gov/content/dam/docs/commission/2026/0226/6.pdf

Bolded part is not true. The current main lanes are not slated to become frontage roads. In fact, just last year they finished the freeway conversion of TX 288 from CR 60 to Croix Road.

This project (in conjunction with the Grand Parkway) will probably be the biggest road construction to happen in my neck of the woods for a long time. I wonder if BCTRA is doing both this and their section of the Grand Parkway simultaneously.

I failed to check the current status of the road and drew that incorrect conclusion.  The toll road will apparently function as express lanes for an existing freeway.  I'll edit the post accordingly.

[Anthony_JK]

All this project is is adding/extending tolled express lanes to SH 288 within the main lanes, a la the I-10 Katy Tollway. Will those lanes become toll-free when the concession is fully paid?? And, any thought about adding continuous one-way frontage roads along the full length...or is that on TXDOT since the mainlanes of SH 288 are still a state highway?

[wxfree]

The minute order establishing Park Road 77 in the new Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, which opens tomorrow (and has hills formed by erosion, not mountains formed by tectonic activity) transfers ownership of a piece of FM 2372 to the parks department, and also removes the piece of road from the state highway system, which designating it as a park road.

https://onbasepav.txdot.gov/commission/api/Document/24167870/

Having a state highway not on TxDOT land is fine with me, because it's still state land, held by the parks department.  But having a designated park road, a state highway, that isn't part of the state highway system, seems strange.

My first thought is that it could be a state highway that is not a part of the state highway system.  The system may not be comprehensive and not include all state highways.  It may exclude specialty type roads, such as park roads that are not intended for use by the general public.  When it says that the land is no longer needed for state highway purposes, that refers to the system, and not all state highways.

Park roads were established in Minute Order 16701, the General Redescription of the State Highway System, which at the time represented "the complete description of the State Highway System" in 1939.  I don't recall whether park roads were established earlier, but that order defines those roads as a part of the system.

In 1994, Park Road 74 was established in Village Creek State Park, and in the order that road was "designated on the State Highway System."  Other park road designations have similar language.

Texas is usually quite meticulous about having everything technically correct, which is the best kind of correct.  It could be that the transfer of the property is what introduced this language.  The template for such a transfer says that the land is no longer needed for state highway purposes and that the land is removed from the state highway system.  Maybe they just retained the standard language rather than customizing it to the situation.  That makes more sense than having some state highways that aren't a part of the overall system as a general practice.  It bothers overanalytical people like me, but it appears we have at least one highway that isn't a part of the system due to the wording.

[wxfree]

I can confirm that there are no signs for Park Road 77.  I wondered if there would be.  In other parks, even tiny, narrow roads have the signs.  The park opened today and I saw the full length of the road.

[Plutonic Panda]

Here's an article article article about a few projects going around the state of Texas some pretty big ones:

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/txdot-off-to-active-start-in-2026-including-in-austin/70612

[TBKS1]

I can confirm that there are no signs for Park Road 77.  I wondered if there would be.  In other parks, even tiny, narrow roads have the signs.  The park opened today and I saw the full length of the road.

I've been told this was a soft opening and not a grand opening of the park, and that the official grand opening date hasn't been publicly announced yet. I assume there will be signage put up for that route once the grand opening happens.