Drivers Taking Notice Of Horseshoe Project Improvements

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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Three years into the four-year Horseshoe Project, new ramps are open. Extra lanes have been added. Even in the midst of the construction some say road conditions are already improving.

Thomas Coats said "yes," telling CBS 11 "I enjoy it all the new ramps and stuff—and the one going from 30 to 35 is my favorite: even in the middle of them still working on it… yeah."

"Overall, it's going to turn into a much, much better commute for everybody," said Nick Nevarez. But, then he quickly adds: "in the long run."

Nevarez isn't completely convinced things are better now. He'd already scoped out shortcuts to avoid the congestion connected to the re-work of Interstates 30 and 35 through downtown.

"You would really have to kind of plan ahead for your trip on which way to go," said Nevarez who says his favorite construction work-around was Corinth. At one point, he would have added Beckley to his options. But, "Beckley is even jacked up now. Construction is everywhere."

Professional driver Leneric Edwards has his shortcuts as well.

"I'd take Hampton and Westmoreland," said Edwards.

But, he also thinks that the Horseshoe project is already handing commuters a win.

"I was talking about that today," said Edwards while making a fuel stop. "It was getting a lot smoother. I can get to 30 a lot quicker… I can get to 35 quicker when I exit off over here… it's smoothed out a lot over the last year."

A spokesperson for the contractor says the $768-million project is on time—and is expected to be complete next year.

So, even as commuters continue to adjust to the many lane changes and closures—

"Just bear with it," says Nevarez, "and hopefully we'll all be happy with the end result."

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