Previously I had written about how to try and navigate highway 380 without going totally crazy. You can read all about it here if you're interested. Today I'm going to talk about I-35, which is the foil to 380 in almost every conceivable way. It's live fast and die hard on I-35 so here are some important things to know when taking this roller coaster of a ride.
1. Using on ramps can be precarious
The on ramps around Denton are beyond horrible. Not only are they pretty short but some of them also twist at little as well. This makes it nearly impossible to reach full highway speed in time not to be crushed by the semi barreling down on you and you're left to the mercy of the drivers already on the road. Author's note: The Texas Driving Test does not incorporate mercy into the curriculum and therefore it is impossible to experience happy merging unless there is no traffic.
2. You cannot escape construction
Yeah no matter how to try to enter or exit Denton, there's going to be construction. Legends say I-35 has continuously been under construction since before it was even built. Denton is currently smack dab in the middle of some pretty heavy duty road work and we are down to two lanes going north and southbound. Both sides also have concrete barriers on the shoulders and this seems to gives many drivers a mental roadblock (pun most definitely intended) and leads to sluggish driving around Denton city limits.
3. Know your lanes
So you've managed to escape Denton's grasp and if you are heading north unfortunately you're still stuck with two lanes. The good news is once you leave city limits the rest of your trip should be relatively smooth sailing as the traffic and construction become non issues.
My southbound friends receive a new lane and each lane has a distinct characteristic. In normal to heavy traffic conditions the left lane is for drivers who have places to go and people to see, not for the faint of heart. The right lane is for drivers are in semis or enjoy being miserable. If you like driving behind trucks, slow drivers, and inconsistent drivers then 1: That's pretty weird and 2: You might just want to stick to the frontage roads. Finally you have the middle lane which is a nice compromise between the two other lanes. This is the lane to be in if you want to minimize your stress as much as possible.
4. Lane closures
Lane closures on I-35 can bring traffic to a complete standstill and will always happen when you're late for something. It's not seen too often but when it does occur it wreaks havoc on traffic for miles. Whether it's due to an accident or construction, it could be beneficial to take the frontage road for as far as you can before you have to get back on. Good luck if you decide to because they're all under construction too.
5. Prepare your music accordingly
I use music to get me in the right mindset when I drive on I-35. If I'm going to be living life in the fast lane, I like to have upbeat and high tempo music playing. My blood's going to racing with adrenaline so I might as well get pumped up for the drive. Just don't get too hyped and drive like a madman because reckless driving isn't the goal here. On the other hand if you just want to get through without frying your nerves consider slow paced and soothing music to play. This combined with staying primarily in the center lane makes for an almost pleasant drive. Almost.
There you are my friends. Hopefully this helps make the daunting drive on I-35 a little less arduous. Good luck to my fellow students on your finals and have a safe journey on your way home to your families for the holidays.
