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Jan 7, 2009 6:22 pm US/Central
Expect Arlington Construction Woes Until 2010
Selena Hernandez
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Chances are if you've driven in Interstate-30, in Arlington, you've been a part of a traffic jam or some sort of construction congestion. It's a major project that's been going on since the fall of 2007. Now there's some concern construction on roads in the area won't be complete for the opening of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium.
The Center Street Bridge is one of three Arlington bridges that are set to help handle traffic flow. While the bridge sits in the shadow of the new stadium some believe it may not be enough to handle traffic.
"Right now it's an old turnpike that has controlled access to facilities," explained Val Lopez with the Texas Department of Transportation. "We're turning it into a new, modern, highway."
But it's a modern highway that's bringing with it major headaches. "I'll be glad when it's over," driver Curtis Heflin said.
In the heart of Arlington traffic congestion has been the reality for drivers that traverse I-30, between Cooper and Ballpark Way. It's a construction cone zone that has some looking for detours. "Go down I-20. Stay away from it," Heflin recommends.
And it appears traffic in the area will get worse before it gets better. Lopez said "The project should be [complete by] late 2010 - early 2011." That completion date extends beyond the opening date of the new billion dollar Dallas Cowboys stadium.
TxDOT officials say the eastbound lanes of I-30 will be up and running by the opening, but that's just half of the $165 million project.
The question is will the eastbound lanes completion be enough to handle the traffic flow? "It'll certainly help the traffic flow going through there," said Lopez.
Yet some drivers aren't so convinced the lanes will be enough for to handle the more than 80,000 drivers that could fill the streets and the new stadium.
"Right now it's kind of a pain," driver Amy Callicoatt said. "Hopefully they'll get it where it's not going to be an inconvenience for the majority, to where we don't regret getting a new stadium, instead of keeping Texas stadium."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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