State opens Interstate 30, SH 360 interchange to ease traffic through Arlington

Construction site on Six Flags Drive under Interstate 30 and State Highway 360 in Arlington Feb. 12, 2024. (Camilo Diaz | Arlington Report)
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Since 2016, drivers on Interstate 30 and State Highway 360 in Arlington have navigated road construction that often slowed and frustrated their progress.

That changed in December, as the new interchange linking 360 and I-30 in Arlington opened, creating a driving experience that some have called “smooth sailing.”

The opening wrapped up construction on the $233 million Interstate 30/SH 360 Interchange Project, with only a small section of 360 still being worked on as part of the original project, said Michael Morris, director of transportation for the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

“The project transformed the original cloverleaf design into a modern, fully directional interchange with connection ramps for all movements between I-30 and SH 360. These improvements will increase safety, connectivity and mobility for motorists,” TxDOT public information officer Val Lopez said.

Other improvements included the rebuilding of the I-30 and 360 main lanes, with auxiliary lanes added to I-30 and one lane in each direction added to 360, Lopez said. within the project limits.

The Six Flags Drive bridge over I-30 will be rebuilt from two lanes to five lanes, extending Six Flags Drive north to Avenue H, Lopez said.

He said that construction on Six Flags Drive, landscaping and other items will continue through the spring.

TxDOT announced in December that the opening of several ramps linking 360 and I-30, and a new ramp linking northbound 360 with east and westbound I-30 marked completion of the project.

The interchange at Interstate 30 and SH 360 has opened. (Courtesy photo |TxDOT)

Lopez said TxDOT held regular meetings with stakeholders in the area throughout the construction, such as Six Flags Over Texas, AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field and General Motors, as part of its efforts to minimize the impact on the venues and businesses.

“We are proud of our partnership with the venues and our efforts to make sure patrons and employees got there safely and in a timely manner, and these stakeholders have expressed their gratitude for our outreach and partnership during this project,” Lopez said.

The new interchange replaces one built in the 1950s, when Interstate 30 was known as the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike. For decades, the highway was noted for its cloverleaf exits and toll booths.

In October 2001, the former turnpike was renamed the Tom Landry Highway, after the late Dallas Cowboys head coach and North Texas sports legend.

Once the turnpike became a toll-free highway, exiting drivers were still forced to navigate off the highway through cloverleafs and stoplights before entering frontage roads with on-ramp access to  I-30 or SH 360.

TxDOT said the new design looks more like other large interchanges across North Texas, including the High Five in Dallas.