According to signs on the Dallas North Tollway this morning, a "traffic survey" is being conducted on a 100-yard stretch of road. This explains the suspicious-looking vehicles with people in them parked outside what, if memory serves, is Tom Hicks' estate.

 

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I've been trying to fool myself into believing gas prices haven't gone up. I've accomplished that by not filling my tank and getting $20 worth of gas when I'm on empty, then distracting myself when it comes to looking at the gas gauge. Using this logic, I am able to go along thinking gas is $1.45 a gallon instead of $3.50. But I'm getting wise to myself ... I can only fool myself for so long. I realize now that I'm making more than twice the amount of trips to the gas pump as before, so my thinking is becoming increasing flawed. How about you? Are you bummed by today's news that gas prices in Texas have hit a record high? What are you doing to do to make that tank last longer?

That sudden backup on eastbound Interstate 20 near Duncanville Road this morning turned out to be an apparent wreck between a car and truck. Here's hoping no one was hurt. Nearly all the lanes were shut down at one point and traffic moved at a snail's pace for about three miles, as far west as Spur 408.

Here's a pretty weak photo of what caused Monday morning's backup on the Dallas North Tollway, northbound, near Forest Lane: an overturned vehicle. I didn't see any ambulances, so I hope no one was seriously injured here. (more)

Many power lines are down in Carrollton, and the city has closed off some portions of roadways while repairs are made. According to a recent release from city marketing specialist Karah Hosek, the closed or partially closed streets are: (more)

Coming from Plano to work this morning was challenging at best. First, there were tree limbs all over the streets in my Plano neighborhood. I thought that was bad till I got on Parker Road and the lights were all out. But then the worst thing were the downed power lines further west on Parker in the area known as FM544, where there were power poles and live wires strewn all over the street.

After passing over some of these, I feel lucky to be alive! 

So, if you're traveling that way, be aware that you won't be able to go any further on 544 than the intersection of 544 and Plano Parkway. And it might be a good idea to skip that area altogether because of the damage and debris.

Crews are currently working to repair the damage.

Thinking of driving on the Tollway this morning? How about eastbound on Interstate 30 from Tarrant County? Think again.

On the Tollway, a jackknifed DHL tractor-trailer is completely blocking the northbound lanes and only letting one lane get through southbound. On I-30, an accident at Ballpark Way has shut down the eastbound lane. Good Friday morning, commuters!

Updated traffic info here

Were you one of the unfortunate commuters headed north on the Tollway on Monday who, because of severely uneven lanes, ended up with a flat tire or suspension damage? The Dallas Morning News has the story of how a certain part of the Tollway became Thunderdome for several hours and, more important, what the NTTA is doing to make things right.

After a brief detour, the much-beloved Crosstown Traffic blog is back! (SOUND OF CRICKETS)

We'll start this new era with a comment and a question.

Comment: I saw a bumper sticker on the Tollway the other day that said "TEXAN BY CHOICE."

Question: There's a school of thought that the only way to be a real Texan is if you're born here. What do y'all think?

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