Road crews began shifting traffic Friday on North Texas' busiest highway for construction of the Dallas High Five, a $260 million interchange at LBJ and Central Expressway. The traffic shift, affecting about 300,000 drivers who travel LBJ daily, is expected to last at least until late spring 2003.

"This is the biggest major traffic switch of the project on Interstate 635," said Pete Garza, High Five project manager for the Texas transportation department. "It's going to take time for motorists to get used to it."

The traffic switch was scheduled for sometime between 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. Next week's changeover is scheduled to take place from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 7 a.m. Thursday.