I-30 Frontage Roads Texarkana / FM2148.

[bwana39]

TxDOT is in steps widening IH-30 from Just east of the Arkansas state line to at least FM 2253.

There could be an eventual connection to a direct connector between I-49 and I-369.

Here is my complaint about the project. Right now, they are building the frontage roads between FM-989 (King's Highway) to FM-3419 (Red Lick Road).

The first complaint is from the underpass at FM-2148 to JUST east of FM-3419 will initially be 2-way with no access to FM-3419. There will be turnarounds at the west end of each, but seemingly no access to 3419. (admittedly the FM-3419 overpass project scheduled to be let in 2026 will EVENTUALLY fix this. )

The second is the signage. FM-2148 is seldom used to cross the interstate. 90% + of the traffic follows 2148 from the north then accesses Hampton Road (the existing north frontage road) to King's Highway and vise versa.  There are VMS units on 3419 (Southbound) announcing that 2148 is closed at I-30. There are three of them  on FM-989 announcing it. The two on FM-2148 are probably appropriate and placed correctly. There is one on Hampton Rd (Westbound) that is probably a little bit late. Beyond the VMS overkill.  Are the "road closed ahead" and "no through traffic" signs. I am sure all of this is correct by the sign manual, but is is comical in person.

Then there is the real vexing part of it. The FM-2148 crossing of I-30. FM-2148 has a 3/4 box crossing. (From the north) it takes a 90 degree left turn, runs adjacent / parallel  to the freeway for about a quarter of a mile goes under the freeway then follows the other side adjacent / parallel to the freeway to another 90 degree turn in what should have been a straight overpass. It probably was initially built this way for a rail spur / bypass that crossed the freeway ROW and stopped.  Part of this project appears to be tearing the rails out and using the second portal of the underpass for the frontage road  facility as well.  The 3/4 box will still exist.


https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/atlanta/i30-frontage-road-fm3419-fm989.html

https://www.txdot.gov/about/newsroom/local/atlanta/fm2148-i30-intersection-closure.html

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/atlanta/i30-bridge-replacement-fm3419.html

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/atlanta/i30-corridor-bowie-county.html

[Stephane Dumas]

Interesting point, they could have made some temporary connections to FM-3419 until the new overpass is ready.

[bwana39]

Interesting point, they could have made some temporary connections to FM-3419 until the new overpass is ready.

They could. They could also straighten out that mess where 2148 crosses I-30. Oh well.

[bwana39]

THis project is finally starting to get some urgency. It looks like the frontage roads between Kings Highway and FM-3419 are finally making progress. (As far as that goes, the entire I-30 project in Texarkana is finally beginning to look like it is actually making headway.) They started paving concrete lanes on the frontage around FM-2148  a week or so ago.

It appears that there WILL be tie-ins with FM-3419. THis is counter to what TxDOT said before the beginning of the project.

If they continue to work steadily, the part west of Kings Highway should finish this year.

[bwana39]

Here is the overview of this project.

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/atlanta/i30-corridor-bowie-county.html

New Progress 
The Service roads from FM-989 to FM-3419 are opening later this week.
Then a new stage of the project, the FM-989 Bridge replacement begins. The bridge at FM-989 will be out for up to 2 years (note the closure of FM-2148 has been over 4). FM-989 (Kings Highway) is a major thoroughfare.
https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/atlanta/i30-bridge-replacement-fm989.html
https://www.thefan1079.com/news/local-news/kings-highway-bridge-closure-to-impact-i-30-traffic-in-texarkana/

The seeming connection to fm-3419 DID NOT happen. A u-turn bridge (adjacent to the FM-3419 bridge) from the westbound frontage road to the eastbound frontage road is complete and SHOULD open this weekend. There is not a connection to FM-3419.

The letting for the FM-3419 bridge replacement has a public meeting on June 14th and anticipated let date in September of this year.

https://www.txdot.gov/projects/projects-studies/atlanta/i30-bridge-replacement-fm3419.html

The frontage roads and replacement bridges on / across this currently rural stretch of freeway has advanced sidewalks and even pedestrian focused handrails.

[bwana39]

They have changed the traffic pattern.  The Westbound is back on 2 lanes with shoulders and all exits open.

The eastbound is 1 through lane with no exits between Leary and exit 1 (Jefferson Avenue) in Arkansas and the "local traffic" and all exits and entries (including the exit from I-30 eb  to I-369) detoured onto the frontage road.

Heavy trucks seem hesitant to get on the through lane (which is about 15' wide with jersey barrier on both sides.) At this point, the stackups are all on the frontage road. Mostly traffic out on them are running around 50mph
It seems like this was the case on the westbound for the better part of a year. The chute on the service road at Kings Highway is a mess. Honestly, they should have both lanes open and force the right turns off of Kings to yield better.  OH Well!

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