Commute from Rt121 down Dallas Tollway to Carrollton? (Plano, Spring: renting, construction)

[kam08]

Any comments on the commute between north Plano to Carrollton would be great. I am looking at renting in Plano and taking Rt 121 to the Dallas Tollway South to Carrollton. Thanks.

[smh]

Stay far, far away from Hwy 121 during morning/evening rush hours. It's under construction and the backups are horrendous.

There are much better and quicker ways to get from Plano to Carrollton than the route you mentioned. Give me a general idea of where you're coming from in Plano and where you're headed in Carrollton, and I'll be able to tell you a better way to get there.

[kam08]

Thanks for the heads up SMH. I am looking at renting around Ridgeview in Plano and will be working near Addison airport in Carrollton. Thanks

[smh]

kam -- I'm not familiar with Ridgeview. Can you give me some of the major street intersections around it?

[kam08]

Ridgeview ranch between Independence and Custer roads.

[smh]

OK, the best route may depend on exactly where around the airport you're headed, but here are some alternatives. Keep in mind that I haven't had to drive down through this area during morning rush hours in a couple of years, so things may have gotten worse on the side streets. Still, the Tollway is a parking lot going south from Plano in the AM and it's usually faster if you stay off of it.

The simplest way would be to take the closest main east-west road near you (McDermott?? Hedgecoxe??) over to Preston Rd. Go south on Preston to Keller Springs and turn right (west). Keller Springs runs right under Addison Airport (it's a toll tunnel).

Another route is to work your way over to Midway Rd. and go in to Carrollton/Addison that way. You can probably take the Tollway down as far as Park/FM544 before it gets horribly clogged up (the backups used to start just after that at the Bush Turnpike). Get off at that exit (it's right by Willowbend Mall) and go west (right). A couple of stoplights past the mall will be Midway Rd. Turn left (south) and take it down into Carrollton. It will run right by the airport.

The easiest way to get to the Tollway would be to take Independence or Custer down to Legacy and then take Legacy across to the Tollway. Legacy may be crowded, though, because there are a number of large companies there (EDS, Frito-Lay, etc.) with people coming in to work. If so, you can go further down to Spring Creek or Parker and take one of those streets over to the Tollway. At that point, you'll only be an exit or two away from the point where you'll want to get off.

If the Tollway is a mess or you want to avoid it altogether, take one of the major north/south streets in Plano (Ohio is good, but Independence or Custer will get you there) down to Park/FM544 (it's the same street, it just has different names at different points). Turn right (west) on Park/FM544 and follow it out past Willowbend Mall to Midway. Go south on Midway to the airport.

You may have to experiment with different roads, and you'll discover some shortcuts between them as well. Traffic may move slowly at times, but at least it moves, which is more than can be said for 121 or the Tollway.

Hope I made myself clear. Good luck!

[socketz]

I think he needs to come a little south on Independence towards Parker and head west on Parker towards Carrolton on Parker (to Midway)

121 would be a nightmare.