I-10

Major Infrastructure Projects Impact Woodland Heights /  by Michael Graves

Our historic neighborhood, nestled in the crook of I-10 and I-45 at the first freeway exit from downtown Houston, is entering another transformation chapter. Over recent decades, Woodland Heights has experienced dramatic changes through rapid redevelopment and a flourishing local business scene. Major infrastructure projects will reshape our transportation boundaries over the next decade.

TxDot Map of Katy Corridor Construction Project.

White Oak Bayou I-10 Elevation Project.
Construction has begun on the $400 million I-10 White Oak Bayou elevation project along our southern boundary. Phase one started this month by reducing westbound I-10 from five lanes to three between I-45 and Studemont. The Taylor Street exit and entrance ramps are now closed, with detours via Sawyer Street and Washington Avenue.

A significant highlight of this project is the reconstruction of the Houston Avenue bridge, a longtime pain point for our community. Long-term residents will recall the frequent bridge strikes by oversized vehicles, each incident requiring emergency repairs and causing major traffic disruptions. The new design will position Houston Avenue beneath the I-10 main lanes, the goal is to eliminate these bridge strikes and their associated delays.

For trail users, portions of the MKT Trail and White Oak Bayou Greenway under I-10 are temporarily closed. TxDOT has established marked detour routes and added new infrastructure, including a switchback trail at Studemont and a wider sidewalk along the eastbound feeder road south of I-10. While periodic trail closures may occur during construction, both trails will remain accessible throughout the project.

Key Impacts and Timeline

  • I-10 White Oak Bayou Project: Now through late 2028

  • Lane reductions and intermittent closures: Through late 2027

  • Houston Avenue bridge reconstruction: Mid-2025 through late 2027

  • New trail features: Studemont switchback trail and wider sidewalks along I-10

  • I-45 NHHIP: Construction reaching our western boundary in 2028, continuing through 2033

As a neighborhood that has successfully navigated significant changes over the past decades, we will adapt to these infrastructure improvements while maintaining our strong community bonds. The Woodland Heights Civic Association will continue to advocate for our neighborhood's interests throughout these projects.

Courtesy TxDOT website https://its.txdot.gov/its/District/HOU/lane-closures

Did you know you can check traffic conditions or lane closures among other options in your area you can visit TXDot's Advanced Traffic Management System (ITS - intelligent transportation system) page on their website. Here you can zoom in on the map to see specific areas close to your neighborhood or in other areas across the state where TxDot cameras or located.

Brian Edmondson

Houston Chron: Texas freeway foes band together against TxDOT, calling plans to widen highways 'insane' /  by Alaina Hebert

Houston Chronicle publishes: “Texas freeway foes band together against TxDOT, calling plans to widen highways 'insane'“ - https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Freeway-foes-across-the-state-band-together-17416345.php

“Among the projects drawing alarm:

Houston’s $9.7 billion-plus project to widen I-45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8, which will add two managed lanes in each direction and rebuild the downtown freeway system and the obsolete interchange with Loop 610.

Austin’s $4.9 billion rebuild of I-35 through the heart of the capital, which would replace the clogged two-tier freeway with a single buried road that adds two carpool lanes in each direction. Opponents have said this will divide the city further.

El Paso’s planned widening of I-10 through the downtown area, which would build on overall widening of the freeway to the New Mexico border meant to facilitate border trade and ease traffic.

Dallas’ proposed I-345 redesign to bury the freeway between downtown and Deep Ellum, which opponents have called unnecessary. They have advocated for removing the freeway entirely.”
— Dug Begley, Staff writer, Houston Chronicle

Sample Comment for TXDOT I-10 Elevation /  by Alaina Hebert

Below is a sample comment submitted by Woodland Heights neighbor:

The project as proposed isn’t needed because in the last 20 years the referenced section of I-10 has only

been impassable due to flood waters on three occasions lasting for no more than 24 hours each.

Raising this roadbed as proposed will not allow traffic to flow unimpeded because a mile of so west

there is the same rare flooding issue on the I-10 roadway between Washington Ave. and TC Jester.

Traffic can easily be routed around these rare hazards via I-610 as it has before.

The more pressing problem is improperly permitted tractor trailer haulers who collide with and damage

the Houston Ave. bridge over I-10. This hazard closes the highway multiple time during the year for

extended periods of time. The much more cost effective solution is to simply rebuild the Houston Ave.

bridge over I-10 (one direction at a time so it remains passable). It would cost less than 10% of what the

current proposal costs. As a taxpayer who funds these projects, I want my tax dollars to be spent wisely.

Or perhaps for even less cost a height monitoring and warning system could be built along I-10 to

directly notify truckers that their load is too tall and that they will cause a bridge collision if they do not

exit and re-route.

I can’t help wondering if the public isn’t being fully informed as to the true nature of the proposed

project. Since the proposed “improvement” doesn’t actually allow for traffic to flow unimpeded

because of simultaneous roadway flooding less than two miles west of the location. There must be

some other unmentioned purpose or benefit to TXDOT for the proposed project. Could it actually be

related to the long delayed and strongly objected to I-45 project? It isn’t helpful to your cause to not be

fully forthcoming about goals and motivations.

Currently there exists a natural sound barrier and air quality provider in the form of a stand of native

trees and shrubs between White Oak Bayou and I-10 just east of Taylor St. That native forest and animal

habitat needs to remain no matter what. So if we cannot stop this wasteful project from occurring I

strongly recommend that all the needed detention for 500 year flooding events be constructed under

the new proposed roadway. You already plan to use this area for detention. Why not simply excavate

deeper and provide all the necessary detention there and not remove our neighborhood’s highway

sound and pollution barrier?

If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, then I insist that you provide the neighboring

communities (on both sides of the highway) a third party water engineering study proving that in the

event of a flooding event like occurred in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey) that the planned detention built

under the proposed elevated roadway will hold the same amount or more acre feet of water that rose

on I-10 during that flooding event.

If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, and TXDOT by agreement builds all the requested

detention under the elevated roadway, it will do so in such a way that the public can use it as an

amenity; specifically like the one previously built west of Yale St. along White Oak Bayou near Rutland

St. and 5 th and 6 th Streets.

If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, TXDOT will use all known noise deadening designs and

materials on the proposed roadway to reduce noise in the adjoining communities and erect sound walls

covered by vegetation if the roadway exceeds the height of the existing forests along the highway.

WHCA Challenges TXDOT's Plans to Expand and elevate I-10 /  by Alaina Hebert

Read & Listen to WHCA Director of Infrastructure, Brad Snead’s interviews on the concerns about environmental and sound impacts to our neighborhoods and bayous.

How can You get involved?

  1. Review the TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal

  2. Submit Public Comment Form - Reference the following project numbers: CSJ 0271-07-326

TxDOT Houston District
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251
713-802-5076

Public Comments are due by Friday, August 26th, 2022



Major Closures Related to Houston Ave. Bridge Reconstruction /  by Guest User

Council Member Cisneros' office sent the following information to the WHCA regarding the upcoming closures that will facilitate the start of the partial reconstruction of the Houston Ave. Bridge near Allen Parkway. This prep work is required to facilitate the construction of the new Allen Parkway Entrance Ramp to IH 45 Southbound. 
 
These closures will be input into the TxDOT PIO system on Monday, 06.27.16.

  1. IH 45 Southbound Main lanes between the North Main Entrance Ramp and IH 10:  Alternate, (Inside), Lanes closed continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16.  At least two main lanes will remain open.
  2. IH 45 Southbound Mainlanes at IH 10:  Total Closure continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16.  Detour: IH 10 Eastbound to US 59 Southbound; Follow US 59 Southbound to IH 45.
  3. IH 10 Westbound Exit to IH 45 Southbound:    Total Closure continuously between 8:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16.  Detour: IH 10 Westbound to the Taylor Exit; Left, (South) on Taylor; Left, (East) onto the IH 10 Eastbound Entrance Ramp.  Follow the IH 10 Eastbound Mainlanes to the exit to IH 45 Southbound.
  4. IH 10 Eastbound Exit to IH 45 Southbound:    Total Closure continuously between 8:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16.  Detour: IH 10 Eastbound to US 59 Southbound; Follow US 59 Southbound to IH 45.
  5. IH 45 Southbound Mainlanes between IH 10 (Dart St.) and Walker:  1 Right, (Outside), Lane closed continuously between 5:00 AM on Monday, 07.11.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16.
  6. IH 45 Southbound Exit to Dallas St./Pierce St.: Total Closure Continuously between 9:00 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16.  Detour Southbound on IH 45 to the IH 45 Southbound Exit to McKinney; Right, (West) on Smith, Left on Pierce St.
  7. Allen Parkway Eastbound Entrance Ramp to IH 45 Southbound:  Total Closure Continuously between 5:00 AM on Tuesday, 07.05.16 and 5:00 AM on Monday, 11.14.16.  Detour: Eastbound on Allen Parkway/Dallas; Right, (West) on Smith, Left, (East) on Jefferson; Follow Jefferson to the IH 45 Southbound Entrance Ramp.
  8. Houston Ave. Southbound between Washington Ave. and Rusk:  1 Alternate Lane closed continuously between 7:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16.
  9. Houston Ave. Southbound at Lubbock and at Rusk:  Total Closure Continuously between 7:30 PM on Friday, 07.08.16 and 5:00 AM on Wednesday, 09.07.16.   Detour:  Right, (Eastbound) on Rusk; Right, (South) on Smith; Left, (East) on Jefferson; Follow Jefferson to the IH 45 Southbound Entrance Ramp.

Phil Teague, WHCA VP of Infrastructure, will coordinate with TXDoT to ensure that the IH 10 Watson west or eastbound exit is shut off when it needs to be to inhibit redirect traffic from the freeway closures.