ChopperChip's Blog

Continuing with the Tarrant County questions.  Some have asked when the North Loop congestion will be addressed.  The good news is that relief (I use that word tentatively because "relief" actually means "BIG PAIN!" once the roadwork starts) could come as early as next year with the addition of 6 more lanes to the existing four lanes from the Grapevine Highway (26) through Haltom City and North Richland Hills.  The bad news is that these lanes would be tolled as TxDOT does not have funds to widen that part of 820.  If approved, the new lanes would be ready for use by 2011.   What do you think?  Once built, will enough people use the toll lanes to make traffic better there?

I get calls and emails on a regular basis.  Most are positive (thank you for that!) and some are inquisitive.  For example:  A common question I get from folks in Fort Worth is, "Why don't you fly in Tarrant County more often?"  My answer is that I do indeed fly in Tarrant County on a regular basis, but I usually scoot around the area pretty fast because there aren't any wrecks or stalls to report.  Now I have a research to back me up on that statement!  The latest information regarding traffic incidents (according to auto insurance incident reports) shows that Fort Worth is the 6th safest area to drive in the country!   Nice job T-C!!  As for Dallas County.....well you folks can guess where the community ranks in that department!!

OK.....maybe a better title to the blog would be "Make the Hurting Stop!" and of course I would be referring to the roadwork on LBJ in Mesquite.  The demolition crews are more than halfway finished in their quest to dismantle the old LBJ overpass at Town East Boulevard and by 7 tomorrow morning all traffic should be allowed under LBJ again.  But that will come to a halt again next Monday into Tuesday for more work. 

In the grand scheme of things, the current roadwork marks the halfway point of the project and unfortunately it will be  another nine months or so before work is complete between I-30 and Highway 80.  Remember...no pain no gain!!  Personally, I could do without the pain!!!

How can you do that today?  Simply by avoiding I-35E northbound!  Road crews are working on the ramp to eastbound LBJ and are blocking the left lane to repair guardrails.  The crews should be finished by 4:30 this afternoon, but of course, "should" is the key word in that sentence!  As of right now, the roadwork is causing a 3/4 mile backup.I

I just wanted to give you a "heads up!"  Starting tomorrow morning at 7, I-30 will be down to one lane in both directions to place bridge beams for the new Center Street overhead.  Workers should be done by nine Saturday night.  HMMMM....sounds like 183 or I-20 would be a better bet in getting across the county lines!  Have a great weekend!!

According to Ron Jackson, it sounds like Friday morning is going to be another soaker!  Hopefully I'll be able to get back up in the air like this morning and check out the wrecks for you before you head out the door.  My suggestion is you either A: Get out the door early or B: Just stay in and watch Good Day all morning!!!  If it was me, I'd pick B!!!!

I just landed (we'd had enough of the "dodge the lightning bolt" game for one day!) and as of 8:30 there are still a dozen wrecks on the highways.  The worst areas are still I-20 at the Dallas/Duncanville border, I-35E at the Hwy. 67 interchange, northbound on the East Loop heading up from Fort Worth into Hurst, and 360 going up to the south end of the DFW airport, while roads of White Settlement are flooded out.

Also expect big backups on I-30 in Arlington and 183 is a mess.  No wrecks, just overloaded due to the rain.

How was your drive?  What was the worst area to you?  As for me, I'm just glad this crazy morning rush hour is winding down!

I know the last event at the TMS was 10 days ago, but since Monday of last week I've been reflecting on comments made by Eddie Gossage.  As you know, he's brought racing to DFW and it has been embraced with open arms.  In a press conference after the race, Mr. Gossage was very critical of the highway department and the lack of urgency to address I-35W (He wants it widened).  His basic jist was get it done now or I'm going to have people like Ross Perot Junior raise a stink.

Again I admire and respect what Eddie has done and I understand his frustrations, but here's the way I see it:  The TMS has a handful of events per year and I concede the sheer number of people that go is high.....but what about the thousands of folks on 183 that have to sit in traffic twice a day or the daily parking lot on the North Loop??  And what about the expansion of 121 around the north end of the DFW airport?  In every case TXDOT lack of action speaks volumes.  

If the area around the TMS becomes the next focal point of a TXDOT project before the others mentioned, then it's a shame.

Thanks for letting me put in my two cents!!

Stephen Barrows from Plano emailed me the other day with a great question. Here it is:

I've got a question you probably can answer. I live in Plano, but I see this in other cities, too. On the ends of the arms of traffic signals there are signs, or something, facing upwards, so only people in the air can see them. Street names seem most likely, but these things are only about one fourth the size of the signs we on the street see, and we're a lot closer than you folks in the sky, so I wonder. Do you know what I'm talking about? What are they? What's on them?

I could only come up with one answer and that would be....solar panels! Plano is a leader when it comes to proactive energy saving in the area so it makes sense to me. I'm going to fly up there this afternoon to confirm my hypothesis. Thanks for a great question Stephen!

First the city of Dallas asks for suggestions in their quest to re-name Industrial Boulevard, then they set up a "vote" for the five finalists and then the winning name gets thrown out?!?  Why did folks waste their time voting in the first place??  Granted the way votes were accumulated (max of 3 per phone # and only one max per internet route) was flawed, but still don't get it.  What about you?

...but if the storms to the north sink down any farther then we might see a rash of wrecks pop up in the evening rush hour.  It's been awhile since the last significant rain event and that means the oil and gunk on the highways is pretty thick.  Add rain and it will be about as slick as an ice skating rink!  As for me, I'll be up playing my favorite game entitled, "Let's dodge the lightning bolts!"  Good luck on the road tonight!!

There were quite a few intersections across the metroplex that had no power due to downed power lines and blown transformers yesterday and today is no different.  Here's an example:  Over at PRESTON RD and ALPHA the power is out and traffic is really jamming up on the east side of the Valley View Mall.  If you encounter other issues, please feel free to attach 'em to this blog.  According to Dan, the wind advisory is in effect until 9 tonight.

My Dad sent me this email the other day and I found it hard to believe: 

The Compressed Air Car developed by Motor Development International (MDI) Founder Guy Negre might be the best thing to have happened to the motor engine in years.

The $12,700 CityCAT, one of the planned Air Car models, can hit 68 mph and has a range of 125 miles. It will take only a few minutes for the CityCAT to refuel at gas stations equipped with custom air compressor units. MDI says it should cost only around $2 to fill the car up with 340 liters of air!

The Air Car will be starting production relatively soon, thanks to India's TATA Motors. Forget corn! There's fuel, there's renewable fuel, and then there's user-renewable fuel! What can be better than air?
Check it out yourself and see - What A Cool Car! Enjoy! :)

So what did you find?  Is this a joke or are we WAY behind the times?

The LBJ service road between DENTON DR. and I-35E is still closed and will be until Monday morning.  Folks who like to take Harry Hines into Farmers Branch instead of the highway also need to take note and find an alternate route.  Might I suggest Josey?

Ahhh late spring and early summer!  The birds are chirping, flowers blooming and the smell of burnt grass is wafting through the air!  Fire departments across the metroplex are having to use more and more resources to knock out these pesky fires and most of them are started by a careless toss of a cigarette out the window.  Please think twice before you start one and alert the authorities if you see someone being a lug nut!  The fire department thanks you for your support!!