Ah, the Dallas High-Five — an interchange between U.S. Highway 75 and Interstate 635 that is a luge during an ice storm, a twisted maze of ramps stacked on top of each other any other time, has now become the place where a few hundred folks are now forcibly cooling their heels because of a tractor-trailer accident early this morning.
According to law enforcement, a gasoline tanker carrying diesel fuel overturned on the ramp from southbound 75 to eastbound LBJ Freeway. While none of the fuel has spilled so far, the task of emptying the tanker of its fuel before transporting it has taken the entire day, and officials now say that the interchange will be shut down through the evening — and yes, that includes rush hour.
Dallas police said the liquid contents in the tanker shifted as the truck from Trans Wood trucking of Omaha, Nebraska, took a curve, causing it to overturn. The driver was uninjured.
And when we say the entire interchange, we mean everything. Planning on taking Central Expressway from Plano to Downtown Dallas? You goofy. Wanting to get from east Dallas to Sam Moon over on the west side? No bedazzled handbags for you today. Good news though, eastbound LBJ is open, allegedly.
And of course, some people are stuck. Stuck enough, apparently, to need to order food because they’re going nowhere. And of course, people are tweeting about it.
The dallas “high five” gave me one to the face this morning 
— UG (@mangootulips) June 21, 2018
Only took me 3 hours to get to work. High Five is a major intersection in Dallas… so when it gets shut down… all surrounding side roads are also backed up. #DaysIWishIHadaHelicopter https://t.co/Cl58LkW7ab
— Blake (@NeedSampleCode) June 21, 2018
NEW TRAFFIC ALERT: Can’t remember this happened before, the ENTIRE High Five in #Dallas is shut down. All directions of 75, 635 & ramps. Started as overturned 18-wheeler on ramp & they’re trying to upright it. But want to make sure nothing is below in case it falls #dfwtraffic pic.twitter.com/ogRWVBkZdH
— Amanda Guerra (@AmandaGuerraTX) June 21, 2018
Some people pulling into McDonalds near High Five to find a way around. One guy laughed and said, “Dallas is becoming New York City. When something goes wrong, it gets really crowded. I don’t think we’re used to it.” pic.twitter.com/jxUUAf8IpZ
— Alan Scaia (@scaia) June 21, 2018
Traffic Alert: High Five in Dallas near Coit Rd is congested like a mug. #traffic #dallas #LBJ 
pic.twitter.com/qbym372nWh
— Mosey (@mvclj) June 21, 2018
Some stranded commuters taking advantage of a food truck also stuck in the backup. pic.twitter.com/2Ws0XUJugc
— Tracy Clark (@tracylynneclark) June 21, 2018
— Texas Timber Bat Co. (@texastimberbats) June 21, 2018
#dallas #traffic ENTIRE high five shut tf DOWN. North Central Expressway/US-75 is a PARKING LOT. pic.twitter.com/qN58iEuk9n
— $olaire (@SolaireWTS) June 21, 2018
Walking and grabbing @Whataburger when stuck in massive traffic. This is Texas. pic.twitter.com/NUT0Hm3dA5
— Marjorie Owens (@clumsyandshy) June 21, 2018
If you’re one of those people, thanks for turning to us to kill time. If it makes you feel better, we’ll leave you with the great David Byrne’s words about the High Five, from his own diary.
“After about twenty miles, I turned north on Highway 75 on what might be the mightiest and most awe-inspiring interchange I’ve ever seen. At least five levels of roads are stacked up, all swooping over, under and around each other as if in some mighty concrete mating dance. It’s a truly incredible work, graceful, and of a scale so large that it is impossible to see the whole thing from any one vantage point.
When driving on the upper levels, you are almost completely unaware that you are arcing and swooping and curving in a ballet with all the other vehicles exiting and merging down below. You simply see the curve of the road ahead, and some signs alerting you of approaching merging lanes and future exits.”
Hope you’re enjoying this awe-inspiring interchange. In the meantime, tell us if you’re stuck in it. If you’re not, share your best alternate route. If you need an alternate route, put in a request, and let’s crowdsource that bad boy.
