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Aug 19, 2009 6:51 am US/Central
Dueling Events To Test Arlington's Traffic Plans
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The new Cowboys Stadium has certainly been an "if you build it, they will come" situation. The beautiful venue has booked some of the most popular events in North Texas. But, how annoyed will fans be once they get there?
Arlington's expanding entertainment district will get a huge traffic test on Wednesday night, as two dueling events come to Cowboys Stadium and Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The two venues are located down the street from each other. Toss in road construction in the area plus rush hour traffic and you've got the makings of a gridlock nightmare.
The playoff-contending Texas Rangers host the Minnesota Twins at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday night. Then at 7:30 p.m., the Paul McCartney concert kicks off at Cowboys Stadium. Some 57,000 fans are expected to descend on the area, most of them during afternoon rush hour.
Signage and advanced preparation has paid off for past events at both venues, keeping complaints to a minimum. But this is the first time the city will contend with simultaneous events during a weekday rush hour.
If you are heading to the Paul McCartney concert along westbound Interstate-30, avoid Ballpark Way and Legends Way. Those two streets, according to planners, cannot handle all the traffic. Getting stuck there will not be pretty. Rather, go another mile and exit Cooper Street, then double back to Cowboys Stadium.
There are several area shortcuts that could help in reaching Cowboys Stadium. They have been mapped out on a special
interactive parking website, where drivers can enter their zip code and assigned parking lot, then find the best route. Do not rely on your GPS navigational system, as it will not account for barricaded roads.
And, of course, fans are advised to leave extra early for both events. Given that this is a first for Arlington, nobody is quite sure when traffic backups will begin.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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