DFW but mainly Dallas

[charisstoma]

Rebecca Gray with Cindy Denison and 3 others
For all my friends and family that have never ventured to Dallas, Daalis, or Dallus, here is an aerial view of one of the major mix masters (highways intersecting) that is fairly close to where we live.

This is somewhat exaggerated but only somewhat. If you need explanation of some of the things mentioned (*grins* esp. you non-U.S. peoples) just ask. Btw. That's a true photo of a mix-master here. Think of how many levels of aerial highways that is. Now think of snow, built up sleet and ice on them because they're too far off the ground for the soil's heat to melt all that. The driver wasn't seriously hurt.


TRUE STORY! Driving in Dallas......
First you must learn to pronounce the city name. It is DAL-LUS, or DAA-LIS depending on if you live inside or outside LBJ Freeway.

Next, if your Mapsco is more than a few weeks old, throw it out and buy a new one. If in Denton County and your Mapsco is one-day-old, then it is already obsolete. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. (Frisco has screwed everything up.)

Dallas has its own version of traffic rules... "Hold on and pray."
There is no such thing as a dangerous high-speed chase in Dallas . We all drive like that.

All directions start with, "Get on Beltline," which has no beginning and no end. (It REALLY DOESN'T!!!)

The morning rush hour is from 6 to 10. The evening rush hour is from 3 to 7. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning.

If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear-ended, cussed out and possibly shot. When you are the first one on the starting line, count to five when the light turns green before going to avoid crashing with all the drivers running the red light in cross-traffic.

Construction on Central Expressway is a way of life and a permanent form of entertainment. We had sooo much fun with that, we have added George Bush Freeway and the High Five to the mix.

All unexplained sights are explained by the phrase, "Oh, we're in Fort Worth !"

If someone actually has his or her turn signal on, it is probably a factory defect. Car horns are actually "Road Rage" indicators - and remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas ..

All old ladies with blue hair in a Mercedes have the right of way. Period. And remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas ..

Inwood Road, Plano Road, NW Highway, East Grand, Garland Road, Marsh Lane, Josey Lane, 15th Street, Preston Road all mysteriously change names as you cross intersections (these are only a FEW examples). The perfect example is what is MOSTLY known as Plano Road . On the south end, it is known as Lake Highlands Drive, cross Northwest Highway and it becomes Plano Road, go about 8 miles and it is briefly Greenville Ave, Ave K, and Highway 5. It ends in Sherman ...

The North Dallas Tollway is our daily version of NASCAR. The minimum acceptable speed on the Dallas North Toll Road is 85 mph. Anything less is considered downright sissy. It also ends in Sherman .

If asking directions in Irving or SE Dallas , you must have knowledge of Spanish. If in central Richardson or on Harry Hines, Mandarin Chinese will be your best bet. If you stop to ask directions on Gaston or Live Oak, you better be armed... and remember, it's legal to be armed in Texas
The wrought iron on windows near Oak Cliff and Fair Park is not ornamental!!

A trip across town east to west will take a minimum of four hours, although many north/south freeways have unposted minimum speeds of 75.
It is possible to be driving WEST in the NORTH-bound lane of EAST NORTHWEST Highway . Don't let this confuse you.

LBJ is called "The Death Trap" for two reasons: "death" and "trap."
If it's 100 degrees, Thanksgiving must be next weekend. If it's 10 degrees and sleeting/snowing, the Fort Worth Stock Show is going on. If it has rained 6 inches in the last hour, the Byron Nelson Golf Classic is in the second round (if it's Spring) - and it is the Texas State Fair if it's Fall.
If you go to the Fair, pay the $15.00 to park INSIDE Fair Park . Parking elsewhere could cost up to $2500 for damages, towing fees, parking tickets, and possibly a gunshot wound. If some guy with a flag tries to get you to park in his yard, run over him.

Any amusement parks, stadiums, arenas, racetracks, airports, etc., are conveniently located as far away from EVERYTHING as possible so as to allow for ample parking on grassy areas.

Final Warning: Don't Mess With Texas Drivers ... remember, it's legal to Be armed in Texas.

Comments

[2metaldog.livejournal.com]

One of my favourite directions from the GPS when driving into Toronto is "stay right to exit left in...." Our major highways into T.O. aren't too confusing with the exits (afore mentioned one excepted). However, construction has been on-going for as long as I can remember.

There is also the Don Valley Parkway, which is not so affectionately called the Don Valley Parking Lot. I kid you not when I say I have been on it and there was a groundhog walking along the side of the road and he was making better time than we were.

Then there's the Gardiner Expressway, a major road in/out of the city core. It's in desperate need of repair to the point that pieces of concrete fall off of the elevated road onto the equally as busy Lakeshore Boulevard below. And I'm not talking about smallish, fist-sized pieces (although that happens frequently). I'm talking about pieces 2 feet across or more.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

And here I thought you lived in a normal northern territory. When did you move to Texas again?

[2metaldog.livejournal.com]

The highways in/around Toronto were designed in the 50's. They were NOT designed to handle the kind of traffic that they do now. Morning rush hour starts at 6am and ends at around 9:30-10am. It starts back up at 3pm and goes to 7pm. Fridays, rush hour in the afternoon starts at about 2pm.

They are trying to increase the lanes but are also hampered by the fact that there are buildings on either side of the road, not to mention other lanes of highway as well. Quite literally, there's nowhere to put new roads that we need to handle the traffic.

Oh, when my friend from NC was visiting me and it was time for her to go home, the ride from the downtown core to the airport took us over 2 hours due to road construction. The trip should take 25 minutes tops.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

I live your construction pain. But there is a place to put new roads, UP. *looks innocent* That's what we do here.

[2metaldog.livejournal.com]

Well, that would require cash that we don't have. There's also no way to go up when we'd have to remove existing lanes (making the problem worse) to put in the necessary supports. We also have a rather bad history with elevated roadways. The Gardiner I mentioned previously? Elevated roadway. It sheds concrete chunks with depressing frequency because of the freeze/thaw cycle here and the use of salt to combat the frequent icing of the roadway... because it's elevated.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Note the innocent look. I know exceedingly well that highways like this, elevated, are wrong to do anywhere you get snow and ice like you do. Hadn't thought of the freeze/thaw cycle on concrete. One of the elevated roads here dropped a 2' block out of the roadway. Maybe the brine they spray on the roads during icy weather but think it was earlier this month before the real ice problems. Could be error in building or maybe the aging road infrastructure that all the new construction is supposed to replace.

Yep, they close roadways periodically here in good weather for removing of old bridges/elevated roads. Especially lately. Usually at night. Totally understand.

Nero in Roman and whoever it was in London for the Great London Fire, they knew how to take care of impossible city planning problems. Then again, you need cash for the rebuilding.
Don't know how to fix this. Surprise Earthquake and everyone has to move out of the central part of the city?

[mee-eep.livejournal.com]

*whimper*

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

Got much more snow today and it's supposed to rain/drizzle tonight all with temperatures below freezing.
Was very interesting driving home today. Fish tailed once. One person said there were as many as 600 traffic accidents in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
If only they'd plow the roads and then put down the de-icer. I'm told that's a Northern way of thinking. Well yeah, that was where I was raised and we dealt with snow like this without problems.
The kids went berserk.

[mee-eep.livejournal.com]

YOU BE CAREFUL

You'd laugh at this country. First flake of snow hits and everyone rushes out for bread and milk, a little sticks and schools close and council runs out of road grit. We're not geared for it.

Get's me it's always the frailest little old ladies pushing through snow storms to buy bread when the day after it's generally gone. Like thats the only food? Hasn't been a snow-in here since I was little! Though Wales = Hills and Valleys, so there can be nothing here and a few miles up the road people are digging their way free of their drives.

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

*laughing* The parking lots fill with cars of people buying provisions before bad weather. Bread, milk, water, *snickers* (maybe the candy) and beer. It's the basics of life.

First two days of this last week were bad. Yesterday was awful. One of our teachers is from Peru and after I'd cleared most of my car (took the son's)of I swear 3-4 inches of snow I went over and leant him this long scraper on one end, brush on the other tool I was using. The car defroster was taking care of the wind shield(screen for you) and I was able to wipe off the melting ice. Think he's going to go out and buy one of the brush and scraper things for himself. He was impressed. Surely they get snow in Peru?

They do tend to overreact to freezing rain and snow here but this last week it was worth the warning. If they'd stop building these aerial roads in the sky that don't thaw like roads built on the ground... They look neat and artistic but you don't want to be on them in all but warm clear weather. We have a lot of that last but when we don't...

You're in Wales. Don't you have those Welsh Ponies to cart you around or dog carts? Come On. Don't take away my fantasies as put forth by the BBC.

*grins* If you ever want to see what our weather is doing to our roads

[charisstoma.livejournal.com]

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/traffic/

I'm on the lower left hand side of the screen (pull the map over). One the circle around Fort Worth which is Highway 820, again the lower left hand side there's a grey road that bisects it at an angle, this is Highway 377. I live very near that intersection.

Daughter and her family are Dallas (other side of the screen and other circle made up of (interstate)I 20, I 35, and Highway 635). If you follow I 35 up through Dallas until it connects with 635 you're about 30 minutes drive from her house which is in Farmer's Branch.

There's a reason I don't want to drive there today.