Interstate 820

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Interstate 820

Map
I-820 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-20
Maintained by TxDOT
Length35.173 mi[1][2] (56.605 km)
ExistedOctober 1, 1959[1]–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-20 in Fort Worth
Major intersections
East end I-20 in Fort Worth
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesTarrant
Highway system
I-635 SH 824

Interstate 820 (I-820[a]) is an auxiliary route of I-20 in Fort Worth, Texas, of approximately 35.173 miles (56.605 km) around the city and some of its suburbs. Exit numbers begin at its interchange with I-20 in southwest Fort Worth and continue in a clockwise direction around the city until it ends at its interchange with I-20 in southeast Fort Worth. A portion of I-820 in the northeast quadrant is cosigned with State Highway 121 (SH 121) as well as SH 183.

The northwest segment of the loop is officially designated as the Jim Wright Freeway after former U.S. House Speaker Jim Wright. The name, however, is not commonly used; the colloquial reference by the general public is "Loop 820", or simply just 820. Additionally, the area of the highway is given based on its direction from Downtown Fort Worth; for example, "North Loop 820" or "East Loop 820" respectively specify the areas to the north or east of downtown. These colloquial designations do not refer to the direction of traffic flow.

Route description

I-820 begins in the southwestern Fort Worth at an interchange with I-20. It heads north from this interchange to a junction with Spur 580 before reaching I-30 at a stack interchange. Continuing to the north, the Interstate begins to turn to the northeast as it approaches Lake Worth. It passes near Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth as it passes over Lake Worth. I-820 passes through the city of Lake Worth briefly with junctions at SH 199 and Farm to Market Road 1220 (FM 1220) before reentering Fort Worth city limits. Continuing to the northeast, a junction with Business U.S. Highway 287-P (Bus. US 287-P) provides access to Fort Worth Meacham International Airport. At an interchange with FM 156 in the city of Saginaw, I-820 begins to head toward the east. Continuing east, I-820 has a junction with I-35W at a stack interchange. The freeway enters the city limits of Haltom City at North Beach Street and has an interchange with US 377, before entering North Richland Hills. As it passes through North Richland Hills, the freeway turns toward the southeast briefly before turning back toward the east at SH 26. As it enters Hurst, the freeway has an interchange with concurrent SH 121 and SH 183. I-820 begins to head south after the interchange, now running concurrently with SH 121 and SH 183. At an interchange with SH 10, SH 183 leaves the concurrency to the west. At the next exit, SH 121 leaves I-820 toward the southwest. Continuing toward the south, I-820 leaves Hurst and reenters the Fort Worth city limits. Heading south through eastern Fort Worth, I-820 has a second junction with I-30, also at a stack interchange. After the interchange, the freeway continues south to a junction at SH 180 (Lancaster Avenue) and Spur 303 (Rosedale Street) near Lake Arlington. I-820 begins to follow the western shore of Lake Arlington to an interchange with US 287. I-820 and US 287 both continue to the south to an interchange with I-20 at the end of I-820.[4]

History

The highway was first conceived in 1949 as a beltway around Fort Worth. It was originally designated from I-20 (now I-30) southeast, east, north, and west to I-35W. On April 18, 1963, I-820 was designated to use existing Loop 217 from SH 121 and SH 183 to Hulen Street while the section of Loop 217 from Hulen Street to US 377 was designated as Loop 820.[5] On September 1, 1965, another section of Loop 820 from I-20 north and east to I-35W was designated. This section of Loop 820 from I-20 north and east to I-35W became part of I-820 on January 21, 1969, making I-820 a full loop. The first section to open ran from McCart Avenue to US 377 at a cost of $11 million (equivalent to $83.9 million in 2023[6]). On May 13, 1977, the remainder of Loop 820 became part of an extension of SH 183. The southern leg of the loop was redesignated as I-20 on December 2, 1971, and finished construction in 1982, completing a continuous loop around Fort Worth.[7] Despite no longer being officially designated as I-820 on the southern arc (which is officially part of I-20), it is still unofficially referred to as Loop 820 for business purposes, and the frontage roads and business addresses along the southern arc still bear the names "SW Loop 820" and "SE Loop 820".

The loop is often considered the most congested road in North Texas, with the interchanges at Rufe Snow Drive, Holiday Lane, and Denton Highway (US 377) being named the first, second, and third worst, respectively, in 2010.[8]

North Tarrant Express

The North Tarrant Express (NTE) was a construction project that was supposed to add additional lanes, high-occupancy toll lanes, and continuous frontage roads and reconstruct the interchange with I-35W and various other interchanges between I-35W and SH 121/SH 183. This plan, however, was modified, with the additional mainlanes not being built, though the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to widen the freeway by no later than 2030.[9] The NTE began construction in October 2010 and was completed in June 2015.[9][10]

Exit list

The entire route is in Tarrant County.

LocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
Fort Worth0.000.001 I-20 – Dallas, AbileneSouthbound exit and northbound entrance, western terminus; exit 1 is for 20 west; I-20 exit 428
0.831.341ATeam Ranch RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
2.013.231BChapin RoadNo direct southbound exit (signed at exit 2)
2.453.942 Spur 580 (Camp Bowie West Boulevard)Former US 80
3.395.463A-B I-30 – Weatherford, Downtown Fort WorthSigned as exits 3A (west) and 3B (east); I-30 exits 5A-C
3.796.103CWestpoint Boulevard / Alemeda StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
4.978.004White Settlement Road
5.348.595AClifford Street
5.929.535BSilver Creek Road
6.6710.736Las Vegas Trail / Heron Drive
7.35–
7.83
11.83–
12.60
Bridge over Lake Worth
7.95–
8.59
12.79–
13.82
8Navajo Trail / Cahoba Drive
9.5315.349Quebec StreetNo direct westbound exit (signed at exit 10A)
Fort WorthLake Worth line10.0916.2410A SH 199 (Jacksboro Highway)
Lake Worth10.5717.0110B FM 1220 (Azle Avenue)No direct eastbound exit (signed at exit 10A)
Fort Worth12.41–
12.81
19.97–
20.62
12Marine Creek Parkway / Old Decatur RoadSigned as exits 12A (Marine Creek) and 12B (Old Decatur) westbound
13.8822.3413
Bus. US 287 (Main Street) – Saginaw
14.1922.8414Railhead RoadWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
SaginawFort Worth line15.1224.3315 FM 156 (Blue Mound Road)
Fort Worth16.4226.4316AMark IV Parkway
16.9127.2116B I-35W / I-35W Express / US 287 – Fort Worth, DentonI-35W exit 57




I-820 Express east to SH 26 / SH 121 / SH 183 – DFW Airport, Dallas
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
17.6328.3717 Riverside Drive / Beach StreetAccess to Mercantile Center station
Haltom City18.20–
19.00
29.29–
30.58
18 Haltom Road / North Beach StreetAccess to Mercantile Center station
19.7331.7519 US 377 (Denton Highway)No direct eastbound exit (signed at exit 18)
North Richland Hills20.4832.9620A Iron Horse Boulevard / Meadow Lakes DriveWestbound exit and eastbound entrance; access to North Richland Hills/Iron Horse station


I-820 Express west to I-35W
Westbound exit and eastbound entrance
21.2134.1320B Rufe Snow DriveSigned as exit 20 eastbound; access to North Richland Hills/Iron Horse station
21.8535.1621Holiday LaneNo direct eastbound exit (signed at exit 20)
22.6736.4822A (SB)
22B (NB)

SH 26 / FM 1938 north / Bedford-Euless Road – Colleyville, TCC Northeast Campus
Access to North Hills Hospital
Hurst23.21–
23.45
37.35–
37.74
22B (SB)
22A (NB)


SH 121 north / SH 183 east – DFW Airport, Dallas
North end of SH 121 / SH 183 overlap
23A


SH 121 Express north / SH 183 Express east to FM 157
Northbound exit and southbound entrance
23.7738.2523 Pipeline Road / Glenview DriveAccess to North Hills Hospital
24.8439.9824A

SH 10 east / SH 183 west
South end of SH 183 overlap; signed as exit 24 northbound
25.0440.3024B
SH 121 south – Downtown Fort Worth
South end of SH 121 overlap; no direct northbound exit (signed at exit 24); access to Richland Hills station
Fort Worth25.6341.2525Trinity Boulevard
26.9843.4226Randol Mill Road
27.8144.7627John T. White Road / Bridge Street
28.2745.5028A I-30 – Dallas, Downtown Fort WorthSigned as exits 28A (east) and 28B (west) southbound; I-30 exits 21A-C
28.6546.1128B (NB)
28C (SB)
Brentwood Stair Road
29.3347.2029Meadowbrook Drive
29.9448.1830ACraig StreetNo direct northbound exit (signed with SH 180)
30.1448.5130A (NB)
30B (SB)
SH 180 (Lancaster Avenue)Former US 80
30.5049.0830B Spur 303 (Rosedale Street)No direct southbound exit (signed with SH 180)
31.1350.1030CRamey Avenue
32.0751.6131East Berry Street
32.8752.9032Wilbarger StreetNo direct northbound exit (signed at exit 33B); no southbound entrance
33.28–
33.37
53.56–
53.70
33A
US 287 north – Downtown Fort Worth
North end of US 287 overlap
33.5053.9133BMartin Street / Wilbarger StreetNo southbound exit
34.1955.0233CSun Valley Drive
34.9156.1834A

I-20 east / US 287 south – Waxahachie, Dallas
Left exit; southbound exit and northbound entrance; south end of US 287 overlap

I-20 west – Abilene
Southbound exit and northbound entrance; eastern terminus; I-20 exit 442B
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Notes

  1. ^ Some sources use "IH-820", as "IH" is an abbreviation used by TxDOT for Interstate Highways.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 820". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Highway Designations Glossary". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Google (February 24, 2008). "Overview Map of I-820" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
  5. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway Loop No. 820". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  6. ^ Johnston, Louis; Williamson, Samuel H. (2023). "What Was the U.S. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved November 30, 2023. United States Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
  7. ^ Staff. "I-820 Timeline". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  8. ^ Tomaso, Bruce (February 24, 2010). "Fort Worth's Loop 820 tops list of region's worst". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  9. ^ a b Staff. "North Tarrant Express". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  10. ^ Staff. "Project Timeline for the North Tarrant Express (NTE) Project". North Tarrant Express. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.

External links