We Stand Corrected on Central Expressway’s History
Two weeks ago, on Page 3A of your favorite neighborhood newspaper, we published a press release about Burger House’s 60th anniversary celebration. In an attempt to describe Dallas in 1951, the press release said, “With just four lanes, newly opened Central Expressway stretched just over two miles from the northern edge of downtown to Northwest Highway.”
As it turns out, that’s not true. A very industrious University Park resident sent me a letter — an actual, handwritten letter — to point out that Central didn’t reach Northwest Highway until April 1953. To make his case, this researching reader sent me photocopies of six Dallas Times Herald and Dallas Morning News pages published between 1949 and 1953.
Good on you, sir. Thanks for keeping us honest.
Actually, it was 6 lanes from downtown to Mockingbird Lane then 4 lanes going north. The planners could not envision that there would be demand for 6 lanes north of Mockingbird. The exit there was a prime spot for the police to ticket those who crossed the solid white line to get into the through lanes. Anyone remember when the police actually stopped people for such things?