Image courtesy of TxDOT

By KERRY SMITH

HOUSTON, Texas – A mega-project that has been in the works for 22 years is now on schedule to begin this fall and continue until as late as 2038.

Texas Dept. of Transportation’s North Houston Highway Improvement Project involves major expansion to north-south Interstate 45 from downtown to the northern stretch of Beltway 8, a distance of about 15 miles. The project’s initial segment  – totaling $5.7 billion – would add four lanes to I-45 from downtown due north to Beltway 8.  The first phase of the project would also straighten I-69 along portions of I-10 and widen this stretch of I-69 from eight lanes to either 10 or 12 lanes. Bicycle and pedestrian features are also within the project’s scope.

Rerouting I-45 so it is parallel with I-10 on the north side of downtown and parallel with I-69 on the east side of downtown is also part of the massive project’s scope.

Environmental groups, residents and businesses are among vocal objectors to the project. According to TxDOT, the North Houston Highway Improvement Project is estimated to displace more than 1,400 homes, businesses, churches, schools and healthcare facilities.

Traffic congestion and overall safety are identified as the catalysts for the work, which is currently funded up to $5 billion. Eighty percent of the funding hails from federal money.

Later segments that are not projected to begin until 2028 include $1.6 billion worth of work to widen I-45 from I-10 to Loop 610 and parts of Loop 610. A third and final segment includes $907 million to expand I-45 from Loop 610 to Beltway 8.