Jul 10, 2009 9:23 pm US/Central
Major Road Closures Across North Texas For Weekend
ARLINGTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Not only is Interstate 30 closed in both directions at Collins Street in Arlington until Sunday afternoon at 5 o'clock. "We're doing that so we can demolish the rest of the Collins Street Bridge in order to rebuild it," explains Val Lopez, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Transportation.
Heavy delays are also expected near downtown Dallas from 8:00 Saturday night until 6:00 Monday morning. Several lanes of northbound I-35E will be closed between Houston Street and the Woodall Rogers Freeway so crews can hang steel girders on the Woodall Rogers Extension. "I don't like it, but I know it will be finished sooner or later," says motorist Jennifer Joines.
TxDot says special attention was paid to the timing of the Arlington closure. The Texas Rangers aren't in town, and no events are scheduled at the new Cowboys Stadium. "In talking with the city we determined that this was absolutely the best weekend to do this," says Lopez.
But on the Dallas side, the lane closures on I-35E will begin while thousands of country music fans are inside the American Airlines Center for the Keith Urban concert.
"Your question is a good one, 'Does everyone know what's going on?", says Michael Morris, director of transportation at the North Central Texas Council of Governments. "We have very strong traffic management in the region where this doesn't affect peak traffic or during the weekdays," he adds.
Transportation officials are urging people to stay away from the construction zones if possible. Many say they're staying home. "Spending time with my grandson," says Oak Cliff resident, Karen Morton.
Others aren't letting a little construction keep them away. "It's my birthday this weekend, so I'm going to be in this area this weekend at Pappasito's," says Joines.
TxDot officials say they expect the newer and bigger Collins Street bridge to open in Arlington by Thanksgiving.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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