Collector ramps and connector ramps play crucial roles in highway design and operation, each serving distinct purposes to enhance traffic flow and safety.  

Collector ramps are designed to separate freeway traffic from vehicles entering or exiting ramps, reducing congestion and improving overall traffic efficiency. An example of these types of ramps can be found at the I-35/Loop 1604 interchange. These ramps collect traffic exiting the freeway and distribute it to the desired exit or entrance point, minimizing weaving and merging on the mainlanes. 

Connector ramps are used to directly connect two different roadways that may not be directly aligned, for example, the connector ramp from southbound I-35 to westbound I-410 mainlanes. They facilitate smooth transitions between different highways, allowing traffic to flow seamlessly without disrupting the main roadways. This distinction is vital in urban areas with heavy traffic, where efficient traffic management is essential. 

The strip of concrete on either side of the wall dividing northbound and southbound traffic on I-35 looks fine. So, what’s up with the construction weekend after weekend?

That eight-foot strip, called a median, is fine, for a median. But medians are built as safety zones, not to support traffic, and we have bigger plans for that strip as we progress with construction.

We’re building an above-average median on I-35 between Walzem Road and Petroleum Drive – replacing the existing surface with 18 inches of asphalt converting the median to a drivable surface. That will enable us to shift traffic onto that strip at times as needed in order to provide a work area for the construction of the elevated lanes.