Traffic News

Big Dallas freeway shutdown will impact trips to 635 and Greenville Ave

Stretch of I-635 east of US 75 as of April 2020

They'll be doing a demo of a bridge.

As part of an ongoing construction project, the I-635 freeway will close in both directions this weekend.

The closure will be at the Greenville Avenue exit. All lanes, both eastbound and westbound of I-635 at Greenville Avenue, will be closed on June 12.

The closure is required to perform a partial bridge demo of the Greenville Avenue overpass bridge at I-635.

Both directions of mainlane traffic will be detoured to the frontage roads during the scheduled work.

Street closures at Markville Drive and Greenville Avenue will also be required, in addition to several ramp closures.

The closures will begin on Saturday night at 8 pm, and be wrapped up by 12 noon on Sunday, June 13.

So this is possibly not the night to book a room at the Sonesta Simply Suites, nor the best night to grab takeout from the Olive Garden off the frontage road at Greenville Ave.

It's not the night to buy a new helmet at Al Lamb's Honda Motorcycle shop, nor is it the night to pick up a teddy at Hustler Hollywood Lingerie Store. These are all trips better made on Friday night or Saturday afternoon.

The last closure was in February, when the freeway was shut down to work on the bridges one exit down, at Forest Lane and Abrams Road.

8 pm closures

All lanes of eastbound I-635 at Greenville Avenue
DETOUR: Eastbound mainlane traffic will be detoured to take the exit to Greenville Avenue (Exit 18A) and remain on the frontage road to access the entrance ramp between Greenville Avenue and Abrams Road.

All lanes of westbound I-635 at Greenville Avenue
DETOUR: Westbound mainlane traffic will be detoured to take the exit to Greenville Avenue (Exit 18A) and remain on the frontage road to access either the entrance ramp after Greenville Avenue (on the left) or the frontage road ramp to northbound and southbound US 75 (on the right).

All lanes of the eastbound I-635 TEXpress Lanes prior to US 75 will be closed
DETOUR: Traffic will be directed to exit at Coit Road onto the mainlanes.

The entrance ramp to eastbound I-635 from northbound and southbound US 75
DETOUR: Drivers must use the direct connector exit towards Greenville Avenue and travel through the intersection to access the entrance ramp to eastbound I-635 located past the Greenville Avenue intersection.

The entrance ramp to eastbound I-635 at TI Boulevard
DETOUR: Drivers will be detoured along Valley View Lane and the westbound I-635 frontage road toward the US 75 U-Turn to access the eastbound I-635 frontage road. From there, drivers will continue toward the entrance ramp just past Greenville Avenue.

7 pm closures

All lanes of Greenville Avenue at I-635
DETOUR: Northbound and southbound Greenville Avenue traffic will use Forest Lane, Abrams Road and Walnut Street to access Greenville Avenue.

Markville Drive at the eastbound I-635 frontage road
DETOUR: Drivers will be detoured south on Greenville Avenue to access Markville Drive on the left. To access eastbound I-635, drivers will continue south on Greenville Avenue and turn left on Forest Lane to access the Forest Lane entrance ramp.

Drivers are advised to plan commutes in advance or seek alternate routes to avoid delays. All scheduled work and closures are subject to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

The closures are part of the 635 East Project, an 11-mile project to improve mobility, operations, and safety on Interstate 635 in Dallas County. Construction includes the addition of a mainlane in each direction, building continuous frontage roads along the corridor and reconstruction of the interchange at I-635 and I-30.

Construction began in early 2020 with an anticipated completion date of late 2024. So there may be another freeway closure or two.

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RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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