Honkin' Mad

OK to use 121, 183

I just checked the highway cameras and it looks like it's safe to to use 121/183 in Northeast Tarrant County for your post-work drive home. Texas Department of Transportation spokesman Val Lopez says the work crews at this very moment are finishing up the day's seal coating on 121/183 shoulders.

  I checked the still images from the cameras and don't see the crews out there anymore. Looks to me like all lanes are open in all directions. (Watch for the usual mess at the 121/183 merge in Bedford, though. It's already gummed up there, and will probably stay that way 'til 7-ish)

Several people have asked why TxDot decided to close lanes during the work week. Val said the work was supposed to be done Saturday, but was postponed by rain.

Big mess -- 121 - Bedford, Euless, Grapevine

Watch for delays of several minutes on northbound and southbound Texas 121 from NE Loop 820 in Hurst to Mustang Drive in Grapevine. Between noon and 2 p.m. today, the biggest problem was on northbound 121 from the 183 split toward Grapevine. But traffic was backing up on both sides of the highway in that area. Only one lane is getting through, as the Texas Department of Transportation places seal coating on the road shoulders. A TxDot advisory says the work will continue until about 5 p.m. today.

Video: Tarrant's busiest freeway can't get any luv

Watch this week's HONKIN' MAD! video, which explores why Airport Freeway has fallen through the highway funding cracks and gives you a heads-up about other traffic stuff comin' your way this week.

Avoid westbound 183 this a.m.

Westbound Airport Freeway is closed off at the moment near Precinct Line Road, apparently because of an accident in the left lane. Should be better shortly, but if you're headed that way now, don't. The backup is all the way to the 121/183 split. Thanks to NE metro editor Sonny Bohanan for calling in the update.

Drivers who choke when the goin' gets tuff

Two posts from reader Charlie in Fort Worth:

I am absolutely amazed at just how badly people drive some days. Let me ask a question: What are you supposed to do when you come to a 4 way intersection where all traffic lights are out? This should be an easy answer. STOP as if the intersection has stop signs. I ran into two intersections today — the worst being Summit@Henderson in Ft Worth -- where 99% of drivers seem to have forgotten this. All the drivers on Summit just kept going and going and going leaving all of us on Henderson either to fend for our lives trying to get on Summit or stopped forever. I’m just amazed there weren’t any wrecks there today. Where were the Ft Worth police when we needed them?

What’s the problem, drivers? Are you afraid to go the speed limit on 183 by NorthEast Mall and by Central? 3pm today I head home from work expecting to hit Rangers traffic but there wasn’t any. I ran into heavy rush hour traffic at about 315pm westbound on 183 at Central. 3pm!!! Why? I ask. No wrecks. Dry Roads. Beautiful sunny skies. Every stinkin’ day I run into the same problem. “Oh no! there’s a bend coming up. I should slow down to 35-40 mph at best to make that bend. Better yet, I’ll hit my brakes multiple times and cause a backup all the way into Irving!” Come On people there is absolutely no reason to slow down on that part of 183! The speed limit is 60. That means that you can SAFELY come around those bends at 60 mph. In fact, you can even make those bends at 70 or so. Let’s all do the right thing and quit turning 183 into a parking lot. 3PM!!!! Jeez.

The police coulda walked to the crash site

Star-Telegram Executive Editor Jim WItt is a road warrior. He's keeping an eye on traffic along Precinct Line and 121/183 (aka Airport Freeway). Here is a report from Jim:

At 8:10 on Precinct Line Road going south, a 3-car fender bender as you turn right onto the access road to 183 West. Traffic backed up a few blocks on Precinct as people weaved their way through the wreck.  Despite being only a couple of blocks from the Hurst police station, no officer had arrived 10 minutes after the collision ...

Note: Most people don't call Precinct Line by its highway designation, Farm Road 3029. But in keeping with Honkin' Mad tradition we put together a FM 3029 highway shield logo to accompany this report.