Trucks planning to travel down U.S. 380 near Denton, Texas, will be required to follow an alternative route beginning this week.

According to the Dallas Morning News, to keep truck traffic out of the heart of the city of Denton, just north of Dallas, commercial trucks will have to use Loop 288 instead of U.S. 380 (University Drive) from Interstate 35E east to the loop. City officials say this is a permanent change and will allow for easier car travel on U.S. 380. Only big rigs making a delivery or needing access to a construction site will be allowed to travel that portion of U.S. 380.
The Denton City Council passed the ordinance for rerouting in 1997, but it has taken nearly three years to get through the red tape, which required approvals from both federal and state transportation officials.
The Denton Police Department has been increasing its patrols on U.S. 380 and will be ticketing truckers on that stretch of highway.