I-35 From North Texas

Discussion in 'In The Stands' started by ViperHorn, Jun 3, 2019.

  1. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    After a trip to Austin this past weekend an I-35 report:

    Good news: Work around Temple caused an issue going Northbound, but overall the work appears to be progressing to the point by late August there should not be any real issues. Texanne probably knows the plans.

    Bad news: You have to go through Waco to get to Temple. TxDoT is saying I-35 through Waco will be an issue for the next 4-5 years. They are adding at least one lane in both directions and rebuilding every overpass. Basically the issue Southbound now is one lane eliminated from the second Bellmeade exit to New Road. Not to bad on Saturday. North Bound is pure hell. Saturday we noticed the two lanes that were open stopped from New Road to the river. Northbound on Sunday the signboard between Temple and Waco indicated 27 minutes through Waco. We diverted to 6/340 Westbound to 84 and worked through town to 77 then up to the last Northbound Bellmeade entrance. As soon as we were back up to speed we passed the cars who were in front of us when we exited. After looking at the map last night taking 6/340 Eastbound to 77 and then riding 77 through town may have been a little quicker.
     
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  2. Vol Horn 4 Life

    Vol Horn 4 Life Good Bye To All The Rest!

    You know what that means.....10 years of hell! Thanks for posting! Sometimes I drive to my meetings in the Dallas area, but the company will be paying for me to fly from now on.
     
  3. HornHuskerDad

    HornHuskerDad 5,000+ Posts

    Just for the record - I-35W on the north side of Fort Worth is no picnic, either. And there is still a lot of work to do.
     
  4. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    I'm not the conspiracy theory sort, but...

    Sometimes while stuck in traffic on I-35 I get the feeling that the state intentionally under-funded and slow-played the expansion and maintenance of I-35 in hopes of pushing through a bullet train or something.
    :smokin:
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2019
  5. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    My conspiracy theory is Waco TxDoT slow walks all I-35 projects just to harass us trying to get to/from Austin.
     
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  6. Chop

    Chop 10,000+ Posts

    Those 2 Kolache shops on the access roads in West (both of them very good by-the-way) benefited from years of slow traffic on the stretch of I-35 just North of Waco.

    "Slovacek" and I forget the name of the other one...
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2019
  7. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Czech Stop
     
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  8. Phil Elliott

    Phil Elliott 2,500+ Posts

    Slovacek's is about the only decent sausage left that is not $6/lb. I buy it at HEB about every other week.
     
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  9. WorsterMan

    WorsterMan SEC here we come!!

    Thanks VH for the heads up post - any guess how much extra commute time one might expect on game day travel to and from DKR? 30 min. 1 hour or more?
     
  10. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    It will depend on which side they are working on, but so far anyway northbound has a longer line than southbound. Right now say 20-30 minutes southbound and 30 to 45 minutes (or longer) northbound. Right now they are showing 15 minutes southbound and 40 minutes northbound. You can bet on game days the fine folks in Waco are going to provide us with as much delay as they can.

    Also, Temple is rough northbound, but by mid-to-late season that should be cleared up. Finally, they are repaving in Round Rock which is messing everything up, but that should be done by the end of August.
     
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  11. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    I've used 340 before and it helped.
     
  12. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    At least you are moving and not hoping the guy behind you in line is paying attention.
     
  13. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    traffic - it's my life's bane
     
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  14. uisge beatha

    uisge beatha 1,000+ Posts

    Back in 2015 when I was making regular trips between Pflugerville and Richardson, I used to take 79 to Hearne then cut up to I-45 to get to Richardson to avoid I-35. Glad to hear it's still a nightmare.

    Also, that route gave me a good excuse to stop @ Louie Mueller's for some brisket and ribs
     
  15. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    I drive from North Dallas to or through Austin (round trips) 3-4 times per month every month. There is only one city I avoid because of traffic...Austin.

    North Dallas to Georgetown is NEVER more than 2h45m for me, usually 2h30m,

    I use Google maps which will take me off the Interstate at construction/bad traffic occasionally. Total detour is never more than 15 minutes extra.

    I lament that Austin is the most trafficky town to traverse now.
     
  16. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Addison to Georgetown was an easy 2 1/2 hours for us. Now not so much, but as long as you don't "out-drive" Google it is a big help. Georgetown to Austin is problematic which is why I will usually take 130 at Georgetown around to an exit that is west of where I want to go in Austin. (130 to 71 to Lamar to Matt's is easier than fighting Lamar to Barton Springs (non-tolled MOPC between 183 and 1st street was not helped by the widening project because getting off tolled MOPAC is problematic before the river).
     
  17. VYFan

    VYFan 2,500+ Posts

    I just drove to Dallas from Austin, and I thought that overall, it was better than before. Except for Waco itself, the good road is all the way to the E/W split past Hillsborough. South Dallas on I35 is a mess, but the connection in town to other highways is better. So, yeah, not that good, but I think better than before.
     
  18. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    ^^^^
    Was there a wreck at one or both exits to Buc-ee's? Last two times down there was a wreck at both lights at the end of the exits.
     
  19. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Some good news. In TxDoT's Monthly I-35 update they said all of the main lanes of 35 through Temple were open to traffic.

    Texanne - Please let us know if the State of Texas is lying to us (it would not be the first time).
     
  20. seb44

    seb44 250+ Posts

    Eight vehicle crash on I-35 in Temple causing major delays

    Posted: Jul 21, 2019 / 05:54 PM CDT / Updated: Jul 21, 2019 / 06:05 PM CDT
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    TEMPLE, Texas (KWKT) — An eight vehicle accident, including two semi-trucks, caused major delays Sunday afternoon on I-35 in Temple.

    Temple Fire Department public information officer Thomas Pechal said the crash happened north of Exit 301 around 1:40 p.m.

    Fourteen people are involved and two were taken to the hospital, said Pechal.

    One of the semi-trucks caught fire, and a center retaining wall is damaged.

    All lanes of the interstate were closed at the crash site.
     
  21. VYFan

    VYFan 2,500+ Posts

    Just drove through that! Waze kept me safe.
     
  22. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    Loop 363 around Temple really isn't too bad. The only issues are no direct connectors from 35, and the connection at 35 on the north side is the exit to Buc-ee's.
     
  23. Sangre Naranjada

    Sangre Naranjada 10,000+ Posts

    Yeah, that loop works and if you don't feel like fighting I 35 just keep going south to Taylor, Manor, etc. until it's good to cut back over to your final destination.
     
  24. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    They have started the last piece of the Dallas to Waco I-35 drive:
    Driving to Dallas? I-35 Expands Lanes, Rebuilds Bridges
    This covers the piece south of Italy where the road narrows to two lanes in each direction to the split north of Waco.

    The article says they started on 09 September, but I did not see any activity on the oSu weekend.
     
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  25. BurntOrangeLH

    BurntOrangeLH 2,500+ Posts

    Back in 1969 I drove my girlfriend's '66 Olds 98 with her and some friends from central North Dallas back to Austin for the Navy game. Made it to Waco in 1 hour. Excessive speed? Not really. I was passed by every car except for 3 or 4. I35 was 2 lanes back then, so people were passing me on the shoulder when I was in the outside lane. No DPS, just a ton of cars headed for the game at high speed. Made it to Memorial Stadium in 2:15 hours.

    If one does not know the old ways around Austin from before MoPac was built, it is hopeless at rush hours as all the newbies are on the highways.
     
  26. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    This should be posted somewhere for all to see. If this doesn't create 'good old days' syndrome, nothing will in my book!
     
  27. ViperHorn

    ViperHorn 10,000+ Posts

    That is impressive since 35 was not completed through Waco at that time.
     
  28. X Misn Tx

    X Misn Tx 2,500+ Posts

    [​IMG]
    1965

    old maps make me nostalgic for my granddad. He made me hold and read the maps when we drove around. Dallas to Amarillo. Dallas to St Louis. Dallas to Sam Rayburn Lake. Dallas to Possum Kingdom.
     
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