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There are many loathed sections of freeway in North Texas, but few are as widely despised as “the canyon,” the 1.3-mile stretch of Interstate 30 that sits just south of downtown.
But if there’s anything worse than sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the canyon, it’s having to dramatically alter your trip because you can’t even enter it. For the second time in the past few weeks, that infamous section of I-30 will be closed for the weekend.
Starting Friday, Jan. 30 at 10 p.m., I-30 will be shut down in both directions from Interstate 45/U.S. 75 to Interstate 35 until Monday, Feb. 2 at 5 a.m.
Why is I-30 Closed This Weekend?
Demolition of parts of the freeway began on Jan. 16 to kick off the I-30 Canyon Project. The estimated four-year project will cost upwards of $900 million to widen the highway, replace aging bridges and improve access ramps, all in the hopes of improving traffic flow. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project received initial clearance to proceed in 2020.
Although one will be hard-pressed to find many praising the closures, detours and lengthy project timeline, there have been people who see the eventual improvements as a positive for the city, especially as it will likely increase accessible connectivity between downtown and The Cedars neighborhood
Are Any Other Roads Near Downtown Closed at the Same Time?
According to WFAA this week, several other closures have already taken place as part of the I-30 Canyon Project:
- Cesar Chavez Boulevard closed at I-30 on January 12 and will remain closed through late 2028.
- Cadiz Street closed at I-30 on January 13.
- Akard Street at I-30 was closed on January 13, with the closure expected to last through summer 2028.
- Good Latimer Expressway started being narrowed to one lane in each direction on January 13, with those restrictions lasting through early 2028.
Will That Part of I-30 Be Closed Again?
There will be more closures of the I-30 canyon as the year progresses. TxDOT hasn’t announced a formal schedule for how often that section of I-30 will be closed, but there will certainly be more closures announced.
