Texas - DFW Connector project - Don't be late to your flight

How are all the DFW AA flyers dealing with the DFW Connector road project? I've been going in an out of DFW every single week since December 2011. I haven't run into issue getting IN until last week. Had to detour from 635/121 down 114 then come back around on north airfield drive on the west side. It's bad for me because they can have lanes shutdown until 6:00 AM. And with a 6:45 AM flight, I have to drive through it before than.

What are my best strategies? Come in through 114? OR will I run into the same issue? I think I could just get onto 114, then North Airfield Drive and come in that way (like I was parking at Parking Spot, but simply not parking there and going the same way the shuttle buses go). My third thought was to go all the way to the SOUTH entrance and come in that way.

How is everyone else managing this?

A few months ago coming in on 121 one Friday at midnight to pick up a friend, I got stuck for 1 hour 45 minutes about 2 miles north of the airport.
Absolutely no warning signs about the shutdown on 121 until I was already
stuck in traffic with no way out. I really think that Larry, Curly and Moe could run a better operation than the current contractors are doing. Anyway, since getting burned that time I have just been using the south entrance.

Getting out of the north end was just as much fun on Friday night. The majority of the exit toll booths on the left side were closed forcing people to the right. I noticed three "Toll Tag Only' lanes had vehicles backing out since they apparently didn't have Toll Tags.

After the gates, the detour between 121 and 114 was marked BUT the sign was at the immediate spot of the division...no time to merge left. We were forced to go 114 east over to Bush but it definitely could have been worse.

I'm glad that 183 is my route to DFW at the moment. Then again, that construction will be ramping up before long (then I guess it'll be I-30 to Belt Line).

A few months ago coming in on 121 one Friday at midnight to pick up a friend, I got stuck for 1 hour 45 minutes about 2 miles north of the airport.
Absolutely no warning signs about the shutdown on 121 until I was already
stuck in traffic with no way out. I really think that Larry, Curly and Moe could run a better operation than the current contractors are doing. Anyway, since getting burned that time I have just been using the south entrance.

I had no warning I couldn't continue straight into the north entrance until I got to the point where the road splits off to 114 and goes straight. And the straight ahead lane was closed. I wasn't late for my flight. Didn't even really have to rush. But I was freaking out a bit while stuck in a LONG line for the traffic lights .

OP. Where are you coming from? Like you I fly just about every week except I use Continental out of Love Field. Rain, sleet or snow, I can get there in 15 minutes and there about 100 different ways I can get there. Park in the terminal for 10 bucks and walk right over to check in in less than 5 mins.

The few times I have used DFW, I'm flying on Continental. I found a easy way to get there that almost no one uses. Funniest part is the exit I use to the airport is also a street I pass soon as I leave my house. I pass through the Walnut Hill/ Skillman Intersection on my way to 635. I take 635 to 161 Bush Toll. Head down 161 South to Walnut Hill exit. That street goes to remote south parking. I leave the same way. It very easy to get in and out of DFW that way without dealing with traffic. Kinda like a side entrance to the airport no one uses.

But I try to never use DFW. I found over the years I can go to DAL, connect at IAH and still make it to where I need to go for the same amount of time or less than using DFW non stop. The traffic and time spent to get to and from the airport, time to get from parking to terminal, checkin, and taxi times combine kill the benefit and go there for a non-stop flight.

After a long day of travel I just want to get home as soon as possible. At DAL once the wheels down down, I know I will be home 20 to 25 mins tops. Once it took us 15 mins at DFW from touch down to get to the terminal. I was trying to figure out where in the world we landed? The terminal building looked like a inch out the window because it was so far away.

OP. Where are you coming from? Like you I fly just about every week except I use Continental out of Love Field. Rain, sleet or snow, I can get there in 15 minutes and there about 100 different ways I can get there. Park in the terminal for 10 bucks and walk right over to check in in less than 5 mins.

The few times I have used DFW, I'm flying on Continental. I found a easy way to get there that almost no one uses. Funniest part is the exit I use to the airport is also a street I pass soon as I leave my house. I pass through the Walnut Hill/ Skillman Intersection on my way to 635. I take 635 to 161 Bush Toll. Head down 161 South to Walnut Hill exit. That street goes to remote south parking. I leave the same way. It very easy to get in and out of DFW that way without dealing with traffic. Kinda like a side entrance to the airport no one uses.

But I try to never use DFW. I found over the years I can go to DAL, connect at IAH and still make it to where I need to go for the same amount of time or less than using DFW non stop. The traffic and time spent to get to and from the airport, time to get from parking to terminal, checkin, and taxi times combine kill the benefit and go there for a non-stop flight.

After a long day of travel I just want to get home as soon as possible. At DAL once the wheels down down, I know I will be home 20 to 25 mins tops. Once it took us 15 mins at DFW from touch down to get to the terminal. I was trying to figure out where in the world we landed? The terminal building looked like a inch out the window because it was so far away.

But DAL isn't an option for OP since he/she is a DFW AA flyer, I assume.

I've had bad luck a few times with the north entrance. I do dislike how they seem to be fairly random as to when lanes get shut down, even during rush hour around 4-5pm!

I've been using the south entrance, and things do seem better.

Despite the dominance of AA at DFW, this thread actually belongs in the Texas Forum, so please continue to follow it there. :)

dstan
AA Forum Co-Moderator

OP. Where are you coming from? Like you I fly just about every week except I use Continental out of Love Field. Rain, sleet or snow, I can get there in 15 minutes and there about 100 different ways I can get there. Park in the terminal for 10 bucks and walk right over to check in in less than 5 mins.

The few times I have used DFW, I'm flying on Continental. I found a easy way to get there that almost no one uses. Funniest part is the exit I use to the airport is also a street I pass soon as I leave my house. I pass through the Walnut Hill/ Skillman Intersection on my way to 635. I take 635 to 161 Bush Toll. Head down 161 South to Walnut Hill exit. That street goes to remote south parking. I leave the same way. It very easy to get in and out of DFW that way without dealing with traffic. Kinda like a side entrance to the airport no one uses.

But I try to never use DFW. I found over the years I can go to DAL, connect at IAH and still make it to where I need to go for the same amount of time or less than using DFW non stop. The traffic and time spent to get to and from the airport, time to get from parking to terminal, checkin, and taxi times combine kill the benefit and go there for a non-stop flight.

After a long day of travel I just want to get home as soon as possible. At DAL once the wheels down down, I know I will be home 20 to 25 mins tops. Once it took us 15 mins at DFW from touch down to get to the terminal. I was trying to figure out where in the world we landed? The terminal building looked like a inch out the window because it was so far away.

Far North Dallas. I hop onto 635 at Preston Rd.


DAL (WN) is a no go. They don't fly to CVG. Even they did, they would have to stop someplace out of DAL.

I come from N Dallas/Carrollton area and ever since they started this mess, I go south on PGBT and either take walnut hill exit or go to 183 W and first exit is DFW. If its after 4pm I usually take walnut hill exit.

I come from N Dallas/Carrollton area and ever since they started this mess, I go south on PGBT and either take walnut hill exit or go to 183 W and first exit is DFW. If its after 4pm I usually take walnut hill exit.

Thanks.. I didn't know about the Walnut Hill exit off the Bush Turnpike. I park my car at terminal B. Does the Walnut Hill exit get me onto International Parkway??

Getting out of the north end was just as much fun on Friday night. The majority of the exit toll booths on the left side were closed forcing people to the right. I noticed three "Toll Tag Only' lanes had vehicles backing out since they apparently didn't have Toll Tags.

After the gates, the detour between 121 and 114 was marked BUT the sign was at the immediate spot of the division...no time to merge left. We were forced to go 114 east over to Bush but it definitely could have been worse.

Exact same thing happened to me on Friday night, forced onto 114 instead of 635.

Over the last several months, I've had way worse luck leaving the North exit than heading in.

When I've hit delays coming towards the airport on westbound 635, my alternate route is to exit at Freeport and take that down past 114 to Airfield Dr. That connects with Intl. Pkwy south of the 114 interchange, just north of the toll booths, and there's never any traffic delays on that road.

The DFW Connector project website has info about lane and road closures. I don't know exactly how accurate it is, but it's certainly detailed.
http://www.dfwconnector.com/laneclosures.php

When I've hit delays coming towards the airport on westbound 635, my alternate route is to exit at Freeport and take that down past 114 to Airfield Dr. That connects with Intl. Pkwy south of the 114 interchange, just north of the toll booths, and there's never any traffic delays on that road.


Yup. That's my secret entrance on the north side, but I have seen it get slow before, especially around the stop sign intersection.

Thanks.. I didn't know about the Walnut Hill exit off the Bush Turnpike. I park my car at terminal B. Does the Walnut Hill exit get me onto International Parkway??

If you go west on Walnut Hill off PGBT, and then turn south(left) on E Airfield Dr, becomes S. Airfield and then you enter International Parkway right before south toll plaza at DFW. But I usually park at remote south and take a shuttle.

I exited North again this afternoon. This time I was ready for it, but it still wasn't easy. Having entered with a tolltag, I had to use the lanes to the right to exit. But the 121/635 vs 114 split is very close to the toll booths, and to get from the right lanes over to the left side before the split was a challenge, and probably fairly dangerous.

I can't fathom why they wouldn't set up some tolltag-enabled lanes on the left side of the plaza if they will have this traffic pattern in place for very long.

I exited North again this afternoon. This time I was ready for it, but it still wasn't easy. Having entered with a tolltag, I had to use the lanes to the right to exit. But the 121/635 vs 114 split is very close to the toll booths, and to get from the right lanes over to the left side before the split was a challenge, and probably fairly dangerous.

I can't fathom why they wouldn't set up some tolltag-enabled lanes on the left side of the plaza if they will have this traffic pattern in place for very long.
Who knows what the logic is on the airport's TollTag-only lanes. They've removed all TollTag-only lanes from the South entrance :mad::td:

Who knows what the logic is on the airport's TollTag-only lanes. They've removed all TollTag-only lanes from the South entrance :mad::td:

But there is a toll tag only lane for exit on the far right on the south side. I don't know if there's a corresponding one for entrance.

How are all the DFW AA flyers dealing with the DFW Connector road project? I've been going in an out of DFW every single week since December 2011. I haven't run into issue getting IN until last week. Had to detour from 635/121 down 114 then come back around on north airfield drive on the west side. It's bad for me because they can have lanes shutdown until 6:00 AM. And with a 6:45 AM flight, I have to drive through it before than.

What are my best strategies? Come in through 114? OR will I run into the same issue? I think I could just get onto 114, then North Airfield Drive and come in that way (like I was parking at Parking Spot, but simply not parking there and going the same way the shuttle buses go). My third thought was to go all the way to the SOUTH entrance and come in that way.

How is everyone else managing this?

I live in Far North Dallas as they call it. Months ago I started taking the PGB to 114 W to Freeport Parkway, left on Freeport Parkway, right onto North Airfield Drive. If I hear Freeport Parkway is jammed, I get off at Esters, one exit before Freeport Parkway, turn left on Esters, cross over 114, turn right on a tiny road that is easy to miss called Plaza Drive which eventually becomes North Airfield Drive. When Freeport Parkway, North Airfield Drive gets to busy or some kind of strange closure I take the other route mentioned PGB down to Walnut Hill.

When I leave the airport I get in the far right lanes and exit 114E or North Airfield Drive, in other words reverse the way I go in 114E to PGB. I have spent too much time stuck trying to get North on 121/635. Some nights when I come in late the whole danged thing is closed and yes I get those DFW connector emails so I usually know. It is a further distance but takes less time than being stuck in road construction.

I would exit Freeport from 635 and take that down to Airfield Drive. I am fortunate enough to live in the suburbs just west of the airport so I always take back roads. Honestly I think the DFW Connector construction has been handled pretty well in terms of communication (I get their email alerts for road closures) and in doing the work outside of busy hours. Of course, if one is trying to get to the airport at 5:30 a.m., all bets are off.

But there is a toll tag only lane for exit on the far right on the south side. I don't know if there's a corresponding one for entrance.
There is not. Which is fine with me; frankly I hate the tolltag only lanes because it never fails that I get stuck behind the person who can't read and tries to go through one without a tolltag, and has to back up and try to get to another lane. Ugh!

To go to the airport, I've been doing 635 to Beltline to 114, exiting at Freeport, going over to Airfield drive, and then taking Airfield to the north entrance.

Is it faster than just taking 635 to 121 and going in? Only if you can't get in that way. But at least my new way is reliable. I'm worried about the old standard way these days. I just don't trust the websites, don't want to have to look at it every week, etc. A constant, reliable route is something I like.

I exited North again this afternoon. This time I was ready for it, but it still wasn't easy. Having entered with a tolltag, I had to use the lanes to the right to exit. But the 121/635 vs 114 split is very close to the toll booths, and to get from the right lanes over to the left side before the split was a challenge, and probably fairly dangerous.

I can't fathom why they wouldn't set up some tolltag-enabled lanes on the left side of the plaza if they will have this traffic pattern in place for very long.

I'm not certain exactly when they went in, but I noticed last night that they've finally installed two combo (tolltag/public) lanes on the left side of the north exit toll plaza. So tolltag users heading to 121/635 can now use these lanes, and avoid having to cross a dozen lanes of traffic in the ~100 yards between the plaza and the split.

They are now working on the entrance to DFW from 121. I entered on 114 in grapevine. There may have been a different way but if ago it was not marked. This cannot finish soo enough.

The new roadway immediately north of the North tollbooths is now open for traffic exiting the airport. The big change is that the temporary 121-635 / 114 split right past the tolls is gone. You can now use any toll lane, and you've got at least a quarter mile or more to move into the correct lane. ^

The new roadway immediately north of the North tollbooths is now open for traffic exiting the airport. The big change is that the temporary 121-635 / 114 split right past the tolls is gone. You can now use any toll lane, and you've got at least a quarter mile or more to move into the correct lane. ^

Thanks for the heads up, I haven't exited North in a while even though I live that direction.

The new roadway immediately north of the North tollbooths is now open for traffic exiting the airport. The big change is that the temporary 121-635 / 114 split right past the tolls is gone. You can now use any toll lane, and you've got at least a quarter mile or more to move into the correct lane. ^

yup. it's far less dangerous than it once was.


Also, I took a "gamble" and went to the north entrance via LBJ to 121 to International Parkway on Monday.. It worked like a champ. Of course, the lane setup is quite different than what it was. I really had to pay attention to the signs.


It's moving along. Still a ton of work to do. But you can really feel the progress.

I had a new issue today. Entering from the north, coming from Coppell - Bethel Rd and then turning south onto the 121 frontage, there's no longer a ramp onto International Parkway. The only option (besides 635 EB) is to curve onto the 114 WB frontage, going all the way to Texas Trail before you can cross over.

I had a new issue today. Entering from the north, coming from Coppell - Bethel Rd and then turning south onto the 121 frontage, there's no longer a ramp onto International Parkway. The only option (besides 635 EB) is to curve onto the 114 WB frontage, going all the way to Texas Trail before you can cross over.

North entry sucks right now. I hate this project, hate it, hate it.

:mad: