Major I-30 shutdown in Dallas this weekend: What drivers need to know

75 interchanges, beginning at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and lasting until 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26. The road agency crews are going to be demolishing several bridges in the Canyon area, said Tony Hartzel, Northeast Texas section director for the Texas Department of Transportation. The closure is part of the road agency s $888 million Canyon Project, which has been underway since March and is expected to be completed by 2031. The construction is also creating concerns for small businesses along the busy stretch of freeway, where owners and employees are preparing for potential disruptions to customer traffic. This is on the south side of downtown, Hartzel said. There are a lot of businesses and residents who live in that area, and we are working closely with that community and with the city of Dallas to make sure they understand the work that we re doing, the schedule that we have, and that there are still plenty of alternate routes for people to get from one side of downtown to the other. Among those bracing for the impact is The Vibes Barbershop, located on Akard Street near Griffin Street. Karon Glasper, known to customers as Karon the Barber, said the closure could affect business during one of the shop s busiest periods. It s the weekend, so it s constant people coming in and out the city. It s definitely going to be a problem, Glasper said. He said previous construction has already made it more difficult for some customers to reach the shop. We used to have a bridge going straight across; it s gone [Customers] have to go a whole extra around get here a little late. Despite the ongoing challenges, Glasper said he continues to see steady business, particularly on Saturdays. He recalled having as many as 17 customers in a single day. The road agency is encouraging drivers to plan ahead, follow posted detour signs and monitor navigation apps such as Google Maps for updated traffic information. The primary alternate route for motorists to use during this closure is going to be Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Hartzel said. With construction expected to continue for several more years, drivers and businesses in the area will have to navigate additional disruptions as the Canyon Project progresses. For Glasper, the advice to anyone planning to travel through downtown this weekend is simple. Be careful, be cautious, check your maps before getting on the road, he said. Yeah, and wake up early.