Page last updated or reviewed: created June 1, 2015; Feb 4, 2018 (review)
The first phase of construction of the expansion of SH 183 through Irving took place from from 2015 to 2018. The corridor width was expanded to its ultimate width, requiring a major right-of-way clearance. The right-way-clearance had been in progress since around 2008 and progressed at a glacial pace, leaving the corridor with many vacant buildings and cleared lots for years. The right-of-way clearance was needed because the original freeway was built on a very narrow corridor.
The first section to be fully cleared was the north side of the freeway between Wingren and O'Conner. It was fully cleared in 2011. The view above shows the cleared strip, which is quite wide. The following photos below show the buildings that were cleared, mostly fast-food restaurants and strip centers.
(Photo date: June 16, 2011)
This view shows clearance in progress of the fuel station on the northeast corner of SH 183 and O'Conner. The large structure in the background was also cleared.
(Photo date: August 16, 2009)
This auto service business was located on the northeast corner with Newton Street. Newton Street between SH 183 and the adjacent neighborhood has been removed.
(Photo date: August 16, 2009)
A retail strip center, cleared.
(Photo date: August 16, 2009)
On the left was a used car dealer.
(Photo date: August 16, 2009)
An already-cleared lot is in the foreground, and a Taco Bell is just behind.
(Photo date: August 16, 2009)
Proceeding east, A&B Mufflers and Brakes was next.
(Photo date: August 16, 2009)
This Whataburger was just west of Wingren Street. It was the last building on the strip to be cleared.
(Photo date: June 12, 2011)
Proceeding east from Wingren, this building is part of the ExxonMobil pipeline and storage facility between Wingren and Carl. This building was still intact as of May 2015, but was cleared soon after for the project.
(Photo date: January 26, 2014)
This view shows the location of the previous image in March 2016. The ExxonMobil facility was gone and embankment for the new overpass over the railroad was in place.
(Photo date: March 26, 2016)
This strip center was at the southeast corner of SH 183 and MacArthur. It has been cleared - see the next image.
(Photo date: January 26, 2014)
This view shows the site of the strip mall shown in the previous photo.
(Photo date: December 6, 2014)
This restaurant is on the south side of the freeway just east of MacArthur. It was vacant for many years but was still intact as of May 2015. Soon after this photo it was cleared.
(Photo date: December 6, 2014)
Loan Star Title Loans on the south side east of MacArthur had vacated its building in December 2014.
(Photo date: December 6, 2014)
This Burger King was west of Story Road.
(Photo date: March 30, 2014)
The interior of the Burger King
(Photo date: March 30, 2014)
This is the site of the Burger King in September 2014. A strip center awaiting clearance is visible in the background.
(Photo date: September 27, 2014)
This is the strip center just west of the Burger King in March 2014.
(Photo date: March 30, 2014)
Continuing west, there was a single-floor office building at the 2600 block of West Airport Freeway.
(Photo date: December 6, 2014)
Another view of the office building at the 2600 block.
(Photo date: December 6, 2014)
This March 2016 view shows the right-of-way clearance complete and construction underway at Metro Volkswagen, just east of Story Road. One Volkswagen sign still remained in the right-of-way.
(Photo date: March 26, 2016)
This Taco Cabana was located at the northwest corner of SH 183 and Story Road.
(Photo date: September 27, 2014)
Customer notification at the Taco Cabana.
(Photo date: September 27, 2014)
This Jack-in-the-Box was located on the north side of the freeway west of O'Conner, next the the O'Conner Plaza shopping center.
(Photo date: January 26, 2014)
This notification was on the door of the closed Jack-in-the-Box.
(Photo date: January 26, 2014)
This El Chico restaurant at the northeast corner of SH 183 and Story was still intact as of May 2015.
In March 2016 the El Chico restaurant was cleared and construction work was underway.
(Photo date: March 26, 2016)
Moving to the east end of the corridor, there was a strip of warehouse-style buildings along the north side of the freeway between Regency Drive and the SH 114 split (which is between the Trinity River and the Texas Stadium site). The entire strip has been cleared.
(Photo date: November 30, 2014)
Another view of the large brownfield area on the north side of the freeway between Regency and the SH 114 split.
(Photo date: November 30, 2014)
The Carpet Town building was the last remaining building on this strip.
(Photo date: October 5, 2014)
This view shows a cleared building just west of the Carpet Town building.
(Photo date: October 5, 2014)