Traffic News

Don't take I-30 to Fort Worth this weekend unless you absolutely have to

This area through Arlington will be closed.

Photo courtesy of I-30 Project

If you're thinking about heading to Fort Worth this weekend via I-30, think twice: The Texas Department of Transportation will be shutting the freeway down, both east and westbound lanes, in order to do major construction on a bridge.

The span affected will be in Arlington, from FM 157/Collins Street to SH 161/President George Bush Turnpike. It'll start Friday, November 6 at 7 pm and end Sunday, November 8 at 7 am.

They'll be removing the SH 360 northbound main lane bridge and partially removing the northbound frontage road bridge, both of which cross over I-30.

Drivers should expect big delays along the detour route and are encouraged to seek alternate routes.

The closure is subject to changes due to weather, but it's supposedly going to be nice this weekend.

The closure is part of the I-30/SH 360 Interchange Project in Arlington, which will replace the existing cloverleaf turnpike configuration with a new interchange.

Detour routes

Eastbound I-30 motorists will be directed to southbound FM 157/Collins Street, then eastbound on SH 180/Division Street, then to the northbound SH 161 frontage road, to the eastbound I-30 direct connector ramp (toll free during the detour). And then it's back on eastbound I-30.
Westbound I-30 motorists will take the opposite detour.
SH 360 access to westbound I-30 will be directed through the SH 180/Division Street interchange. Eastbound I-30 access from Six Flags Drive will remain open.
Additionally, a northbound SH 360 frontage road detour will be in place at the same time during the bridge demolition: The northbound frontage road detour is westbound Six Flags Drive, westbound Road to Six Flags Road, northbound Ballpark Way, and eastbound Lamar Boulevard.

The Interstate 30/State Highway 360 interchange project is replacing the original 1950's Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike cloverleaf design with a "modern, fully directional interchange" with connection ramps for all movements between I-30 and SH 360.

Hmm. If you've ever driven westbound on I-30 into downtown Dallas, which was updated by TxDOT into what is now an oft-confusing cluster, then you would be totally justified in questioning the skillset of TxDOT's road designers and wondering if the 1950s original might in fact be superior in the end.

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Weed News

Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas files bill to legalize marijuana

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Redheaded Blackbelt

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Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

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