Interstate 30 in Texas

Infobox road
state=TX
route=30
type=I

---

alternate_name=
length_mi=223.737
length_round=3
length_ref=TxDOT|IH|30|accessdate=2008-03-05]
year_established=
direction_a=West
terminus_a=jct|state=TX|I|20 near Fort Worth
junction=jct|state=TX|I|35W in Fort Worth
jct|state=TX|I|35E Dallas
jct|state=TX|I|45 in Dallas
direction_b=East
terminus_b=jct|state=AR|I|30 in Texarkana
previous_type=TX
previous_route=29
next_type=TX
next_route=30

In the U.S. state of Texas, Interstate 30 (abbreviated I-30) is an east-west Interstate Highway that runs from I-20 west of Fort Worth through Dallas to the border with Arkansas at Texarkana.

History

The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike was a 30-mile toll highway in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It operated between 1957 and 1977, afterward becoming a nondescript part of I-30. The road, comprised of three lanes in each direction but later widened, is the only direct connection between downtown Fort Worth and downtown Dallas, Texas. In October 2001, the former turnpike became known as the Tom Landry Highway, named after the late Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry.

The proposed expressway was studied as early as 1944, but was turned down by the state engineer due to the expense. However in 1953, the state legislature created the Texas Turnpike Authority, which in 1955 raised $58.5 million ($427 million in 2005 dollars) to build the project. Construction started later that year. On August 27, 1957 the highway was open to traffic, but the official opening came a week later on September 5. The turnpike's presence stimulated growth in Arlington and Grand Prairie and facilitated construction of Six Flags Over Texas. On December 31, 1977, the bonds were paid off and the freeway was handed over to the state Department of Transportation, toll collection ceased, and the tollbooths were removed during the following week.

It served as Interstate 20 between Dallas and Fort Worth until the current I-20 route to the south was opened in 1971. Afterwards, I-30 was extended from its end at the "Dallas Mixmaster" interchange with Interstate 35E (also the east end of the turnpike) to follow the turnpike, and the former I-20 in downtown Fort Worth, west to modern-day I-20.

Route description

In Dallas, I-30 is known as the R.L. Thornton Freeway between downtown and the suburb of Mesquite. I-30 picks up the name from I-35E South at the Mixmaster interchange.

The section of I-30 between Dallas and Fort Worth is designated the Tom Landry Highway in honor of the long-time Dallas Cowboys coach. Though I-30 passes well south of Texas Stadium, the Cowboys' current home, their new stadium in Arlington, Texas will be near I-30. However, the freeway designation was made "before" Arlington voted to build the new stadium. This section was previously known as the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike, which preceded the Interstate system. Although tolls had not been collected for many years, it was still known locally as the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike until receiving its present name.cite map|publisher=Google Maps|url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=10139518408216521561,32.723963,-97.579236%3B10343026203352416216,33.470110,-94.042880&saddr=I-30+E+%4032.723963,+-97.579236&daddr=33.47011,-94.042891&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=19&sll=33.470102,-94.042875&sspn=0.001479,0.002494&ie=UTF8&ll=33.096144,-95.701904&spn=3.041589,5.108643&z=8|title=Overview map of I-30|accessdate=2008-02-25]

Exit list

References