Honkin' Mad

TxDot under a microscope

Many question the Texas Department of Transportation's competency. READ MORE

Who's to blame for Loop 820 gridlock?

Columnist Bud Kennedy revisits an old battle fought by Northeast Tarrant County residents that prevented construction of a Loop 820 reliever route in Keller-Colleyville.

820 -- Will it ever get better?

The effort to expand the four-lane freeway in Northeast Tarrant County encounters more problems.

Time to speak up about Loop 820

Mark your calendar, if you want to push the proposed NE Loop 820 expansion project over its last main hurdle and finally get it built.

• The date is July 1
• The time: 6:30 p.m.
• The place: Richland Hills Church of Christ, 6300 NE Loop 820 in North Richland Hills.

As part of the federally required environmental process, a public hearing will be held to present plans to expand 820 from I-35W to North East Mall.

Texas Department of Transportation district engineer Maribel Chavez of Fort Worth says this meeting is crucial. If the public shows up and demonstrates public support for this project, there's a much better chance it'll get built this century (my words, not hers) ;-)

READ MORE

And you thought yesterday's commute home was long ...

Star-Telegram photography and digital gadget guru Gregg Ellman just called the photo desk to report that southbound East Loop 820 from the U.S. 287 merge to I-20 "is gridlocked."

If you haven't left work yet, and you're planning to get out in this stuff, be sure you've got a full tank of gas.

N. Riverside bridge would relieve 35W

... But residents of the Stone Glen neighborhood are fighting the proposal to build a bridge over Big Fossil Creek, extending North Riverside Drive through their neighborhood. READ ABOUT IT HERE

AND HERE, TOO

Avoid 377 at 820 Wednesday !!!

Heads up! Here's a messy traffic situation to avoid:

The U.S. 377 (aka Denton Highway) bridge over Northeast Loop 820 will be closed 9 a.m to 4 p.m. Wednesday. A Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crew will be milling the existing pavement and placing an overlay of new pavement.

Traffic on Loop 820 won't be affected, and the exits to 377 will still be open. But if you would normally take 377 to 820, seek an alternate route.

Why did TxDot decide to do this project at that time and date?

Answers from agency spokesman Val Lopez:

• It can be done in one day, during off-peak hours between morning and afternoon drive time.

• It'll be the day after an election, so the orange barrels won't keep anyone from goin' to the polls.

• The work can't be done at night because the air temperature during winter is too cool, which makes the hot mix harden too quickly.

• The work can't wait 'til summer 'cause the bridge is crumbling.

Wreck on one freeway, smooth sailing on another

From Star-Telegram news research assistant Victoria Valles, who was out and about Thursday:

There was a wreck on Northbound 820 at Trinity Blvd. Only the right hand lane was moving.

On a lighter note, considering it has been the first week back to school for UTA students traffic on 30E has been calm and smooth.