The Cedars neighborhood in Dallas faces disrupted daily life and business challenges due to the I-30 Canyon Project, sparking calls for better traffic solutions
DALLAS — For Nina Palmer, the Cedars have always felt like a fairytale.
“So, this neighborhood is a gem. It’s a little secret hidden spot of Dallas. Everybody who lives here is invested and usually long-term,” said Palmer, a Cedars neighborhood resident. “We value it. We protect it, and we treasure it.”
Like most fairy tales, if there is a beauty, there is a beast. For some Cedars residents, that beast is the effects of the I-30 Canyon Project.
“We understand that that’s just like part of the progress, but boy oh boy, it makes day-to-day life very hard,” said Palmer.
As part of the project, construction crews knocked down popular bridges in January connecting the Cedars to Downtown Dallas. Residents such as Palmer have been feeling its impact.
“You never know what’s going to be closed,” said Palmer. “It takes me an additional 20 minutes to get home from outside of downtown.”
It has impacted local businesses as well. Valery Jean-Bart owns Val’s Cheesecakes. He said it’s confusing to customers trying to get to his location.
“Our customers are making their own parking spots,” said Jean-Bart. “Timing issues and picking up cheesecakes and getting to us is an issue for sure.”
Jean-Bart is bringing community members together to appeal to the city and TxDOT for more support. “There are strategies, and there are techniques that can help us get a better flow of traffic here,” said Jean-Bart.
He’s brought up the idea for better signage and more communication.
WFAA reached out to TxDOT. They responded with the following statement:
The I-30 Canyon project has been years in the planning and there has been close collaboration with the city to identify strategic closures and detours for the cross-street bridges being replaced to minimize traffic disruptions as much as possible. We continue to work with the city and the public to review these routes and scheduling meetings when requested.
“You have to stay on it and communicate to the businesses and the residents, hey, this is coming, you know, constantly,” said Jean-Bart.
The goal of the project is to prepare the city for more growth by modernizing and widening the roadway.
“I do know that the draw to Texas is real,” said Palmer. “Apparently, it’s going to get even better.”
The project is expected to be completed in 2030.
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