TxDOT Planning Realignment of Interstate 45 in Downtown Houston

Gail Delaughter reports on the planning effort in Houston that could lead to large overhaul of I-45 between Beltway 8 North and downtown Houston. According to Delaughter, "[th]e biggest changes are planned for downtown Houston, where TxDOT is considering tearing down the Pierce Elevated and realigning the freeway."

According to Delaughter, the current plan would split the segment into three sections—the project map included with the post shows realignments occurring on I-45, US 59, and Pierce Elevated. The plan also includes "managed lanes between the Beltway and I-10, along with new frontage road lanes and a bike trail."

TxDOT is expecting to complete the environmental study for the project in early 2016, after initially announcing the planning effort in November 2013. Currently, TxDOT is hosting a series of public workshops [pdf] about the plan, with the most recent meeting taking place on April 23, 2015. Public comments will be open until May 14, 2015. The article linked below includes an embedded version of the full plan.