The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently responded to questions about the cable barrier installation and crossover closures on US Highway 287 in Midlothian. Here are the answers they shared.
Q: What is the purpose of the cable barrier and crossover removal projects on US Highway 287?
A: Crossovers along 287 are being removed for the installation of median cable barrier with motorists’ safety as the end goal.
Q: How do cable barriers protect motorists?
A: The cable barriers are designed to prevent the potential for motorists to drift across and into the path of oncoming traffic. The photo shown here is an example of how a cable barrier prevented a semi from crossing a median.
Q: Can you give an example where cable barriers reduced the number of injuries?
A: Cable barriers have proven to be lifesaving. Here is a link to a moving testimonial from an incident in Waxahachie. TxDOT Cable Barrier Project Saves Teen’s Life on Highway Where Her Cousin Died - YouTube
Q: Can you give examples of cities where removing crossovers has reduced the number of accidents?
A: As TxDOT is a State agency, we do not specifically track this information by city. What we can confirm is that several of these intersections had enough severe crashes (3 fatalities) due to the wide median crossovers to warrant closures for public safety.
Severe crash information specific to the corridor are listed below.
Primrose – 2 fatalities/1 life-threatening, serious injury
EastGate – 1 fatality /4 life-threatening, serious injuries
Q: Will any of the crossovers listed for removal have turnarounds or deceleration/acceleration lanes created as part of the project? (Padera Lake Blvd., Unnamed north of Padera Lake Blvd., Clinton Lane, Primrose Drive, Robinson Road, Eastgate Road).
A: Modifications will be made to the deceleration/acceleration lanes for the crossovers north of US 67 as part of this project.
Q: When are service roads slated to be installed on Hwy. 287 between Waxahachie and the Johnson County Line?
A: The frontage roads have a Ready To Let Date of January 2028 with a Let Date of August 2045, which is the date it is planned to go out for bid. If funding becomes available by January of 2028, we will proceed with the project letting at that time.
Q: With these crossovers closing, what now are the suggested routes motorists should take?
A: Motorists are encouraged to utilize Midlothian Parkway and Walnut Grove to get across US 287 or the two unnamed crossovers. See map below.
Q: Are there concerns about traffic stacking up at Midlothian Parkway and Walnut Grove as motorists now must use these routes instead of the crossovers?
A: We will continually monitor operations at those two intersections.
Q: What crossovers are slated for removal in the future? When will that take place? What are the plans for each of these crossovers (i.e. turnarounds, deceleration/acceleration lanes)
A: TxDOT is analyzing the crossovers between Walnut Grove to BS US 287 in Waxahachie. At this point the modifications are still being evaluated.
This information was received from the Texas Department of Transportation office located in Mesquite, TX, phone number (214) 320-6200.
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