High Five Interchange

Infobox road
marker_

state=TX
highway_name=High Five Interchange
maint=Texas Department of Transportation


cities=Dallas
commons=The High Five Interchange is a large freeway interchange that connects LBJ Freeway (Interstate 635) and Central Expressway (US 75) in Dallas, Texas, United States. The High Five is the first five-level stack interchange in Dallas. [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/news/local_news/dallas_news/074-2006.htm Dallas High Five Interchange Honored as Public Works Project of the Year] . Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 11 August 2006.]

The $261 million [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/about_us/present_2001.htm TxDOT History, Present to 2001] . Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved 11 August 2006.] project began in 2002 and was completed in December 2005.

The name "High Five" alludes to the celebratory gesture of the same name.

Scope

The former interchange was a partial cloverleaf interchange modified for freeway speeds. The westbound lanes of I-635 were two levels above the eastbound lanes, while the intersecting US 75 was the mid-level of the interchange, crossing eastbound I-635 and then passing under westbound I-635.

As part of the project, I-635 was widened to include HOV lanes. The new lanes for regular traffic were built on the outer vacant right-of-way, while the HOV lanes were built in the median. The original I-635 lanes passing through the former interchange, now demolished, lay between the new regular and HOV lanes.

During construction staging, to maintain traffic flow, most of the flyover ramps were built over the existing parclo interchange. The old junction could then be demolished with little disruption once the new lanes were operational. Virtually none of the original junction remains after the reconstruction.

The interchange comprises 37 bridges distributed across 5 levels (thus the name "High Five"), with the highest ramps convert|120|ft|m|0|lk=on above ground. [http://www.zachry.com/projects_TXDot.htm The Dallas High Five] . Zachry Construction Corporation. Retrieved 1 December 2006.] The High Five consists of nearly 60 lane-miles of new roadway and stretches convert|2.4|mi|km|1|lk=on north/south and convert|3.4|mi|km|1 east/west.

Awards

In 2006, the American Public Works Association named the High Five "a Public Works Project of the Year".

References

External links

* [http://www.texasfreeway.com/Dallas/construction/high_five/high_five_main.shtml Texas Freeway, includes picture of the old interchange]
* [http://www.texasfreeway.com/Dallas/photos/north_dallas_aerial/images/635_at_75_best_hres.jpgAlternate view of old interchange]
* [http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/newsletter.htm?vol=40&issue=2&article=7 Texas Transportation Institute]
* [http://tti.tamu.edu/publications/researcher/v40n2/images/high5before.jpgAnother view of the old interchange]