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.

transportation traffic

RIP Kelly

Beloved Dallas public relations maven Kelly Hunter dies at 58

Kelly Hunter Sunwest PR

Photo courtesy of Sunwest PR.

Kelly Hunter passed away on June 12.

A beloved Dallas media figure has died: Kelly Hunter, a public relations maven who helped restaurants and other small businesses thrive, passed away on June 12, following a brief illness; she was 58.

Hunter spent 35 years in the field of public relations, first at Shiroma Southwest, then at Sunwest Communications, where she served as Vice President, Lifestyle, Hospitality & Tech.

She played a key role in a creative alliance with the City of Addison, particularly its annual Kaboom Town 4th of July event. Other notable clients she promoted over the years include Galleria Dallas; the Statler Dallas hotel in downtown Dallas; Hotel Dax, the Statler sibling that recently opened in Addison; and the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field.

A statement from Sunwest said that "Kelly’s unparalleled work ethic and encyclopedic knowledge of countless subjects were exceeded only by the passion she had for her job. She made an incredible impact on all she met. Kelly was a good friend, a great mom, and an even better wife to her husband, John."

Hunter was the consummate PR pro, embodying both the detail-oriented precision and the 24/7 responsiveness that the job calls for, along with a doting personal touch that was felt by her coworkers, clients, and members of the media. Hunter was beloved by her peers, as well — no small feat in the cut-throat world of Dallas media.

Chuck Steelman called her "amazing — one of the best public relations professionals I’ve ever worked with." Patricia Valderrama described her as "the warmest and kindest soul. Never saw her angry or upset ever." Allison Golden Tucker posted, "It always seemed like Kelly had more hours in the day than most. Her storytelling ability was second to none and she always had time for a quick word of advice."

Barbara Kovacevich highlighted Kelly's effectiveness, noting that "she elevated Addison events to national recognition. It’s hard to not link Kelly with Addison Kaboom Town. Kelly was driven to success and had a great heart for others."

Kelly was born in Dallas on June 28, 1967. Her parents were Joanne Washburn and John Alexander Jr., and she had a younger sister, Amy. She graduated from Plano Senior High School, going on to earn degrees in marketing and finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in marketing from the University of North Texas.

She and her husband, John, had two children, Chandler and Reagan, and the four were frequent travelers.

She was also a lifelong volunteer, from the PTA at her children’s elementary school, to Junior League of Collin County, Women’s Auxiliary for Children’s Health, Chamberlain Ballet, and the National Charity League. A culinary enthusiast in work and life, she was recently inducted into Les Dames d’Escoffier.

"Kelly did everything in life with a cheerful attitude and a warmth that made everyone feel special," the statement from Sunwest said. "Her network reaches every corner of the DFW metroplex and beyond as a talented storyteller, fabulous home chef, and a dedicated friend. She was loved and admired by all who knew her."

Services will be held on Saturday, June 27 at 11 am at Christ United Methodist Church in Plano. The service will be live-streamed at cumc.com/memorial.

Loading...