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The development of the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Turnpike began more than sixty years ago. In October 1944, a preliminary report on an expressway through and between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth was submitted to the State Highway Engineer. Due to the estimated high cost for the section between the Fort Worth Central Business District (CBD) and Dallas CBD, construction was postponed.

To further develop the proposed highway between Fort Worth and Dallas, the 53rd Texas legislature created the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA) on May 21, 1953. On June 14, 1955, the TTA sold $58.5 million in revenue bonds to construct the turnpike. By August 27, 1957, the new Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike was opened to traffic. The Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike had three lanes in each direction when it was completed in 1957. Interchanges at Oakland Blvd., FM 157 (Collins St.) and SH 360 (Watson Road) were the only access points originally constructed within this study’s limit. Cross street bridges without turnpike access were originally constructed at Oakland Boulevard, Sandy Lane, Morrison Road, Cooks Lane, Randol Mill Road, Fielder Road, Davis Street, Cooper Street, and Duncan Perry Road. A service plaza / rest stop was originally constructed within the current Ballpark Way interchange between Collins Street and Watson Road. The Texas Turnpike Authority used the area within the Collins Street interchange as its maintenance facility and used the area within the SH 360 interchange as its administration building (shown at right). Both of these facilities are currently in use by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

In 1967, an additional lane in each direction was added within the median from Interstate Highway 35W (IH 35W) in downtown Fort Worth to Oakland Boulevard. In December 1977, the turnpike toll collection system was removed and the facility became a public road designated as IH 30. Since 1977, interchanges were constructed at Oakland Boulevard, Bridgewood Drive, Interstate Highway 820 (IH 820), Cooks Lane, Eastchase Parkway, Fielder Road, Cooper Street, and Ballpark Way. In 2001, TxDOT improved a 2.5-mile section of IH 30 from Oakland Boulevard to IH 820. The project consisted of reconstruction of four ramps, construction of a collector road, reconstruction of Brentwood Stair Road between Oakland Boulevard and Ederville Road, and installation of five new traffic signals. Although the pavement has been resurfaced and overlayed, much of the original IH 30 facility remains in operation today, including many of the cross street bridges and the original turnpike ramping at Collins Street.

In April 1979, the Fort Worth and Dallas Districts of TxDOT jointly developed a feasibility study and master plan for future improvements on IH 30. This study explored highway improvements to the corridor, evaluated the environmental impacts of the considered improvements and recommended preferred actions. Widening of IH 30 was recommended from six to eight lanes when future traffic growth warranted this action. It also suggested that this construction occur in the median of the existing facility. Due to tremendous growth in the DFW metroplex during the 1980’s and 1990’s, TXDOT recognized the need to reevaluate this 1979 study and began a Major Investment Study (MIS) for the IH 30 corridor in 1998.