HOUSTON, TX — Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials recently celebrated the completion of the Interstate-69 Southwest/Interstate-610 West Loop Interchange Reconstruction. The interchange serves as an important commuter connection to downtown Houston, southwest Houston, the Galleria, the city of Bellaire, West University, Rice Village, and areas in between.
The project included reconstruction of the I-610 West Loop main lane bridge and a conversion of the single-lane connectors between the two freeways into two-lane connectors. New access ramps were added. The project upgraded interchanges to current design standards, added shoulders on I-610 West main lane bridges, and increased vertical clearances.
The project supports critical mobility improvements for the interchange at the heart of one of the most heavily traveled stretches of highway in Texas.
“We’re making enormous strides through our Texas Clear Lanes effort,” Texas Highway Commissioner J. Bruce Bugg said. “And right here in the Houston District, we have completed $461.3 million worth of Texas Clear Lanes projects. We have $697.8 million under construction and $19.8 billion planned.”
“Traffic congestion affects every aspect of our lives," TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said. "That is why the Texas leadership, the Transportation Commission, and TxDOT are committed to addressing this significant issue. By improving our infrastructure, we are not only enhancing the quality of life for Texans, but also driving economic growth and supporting a sustainable future for our state.”
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“TxDOT collaborated with many regional partners to bring this project to completion,” TxDOT Houston District Engineer Eliza Paul said. Working with the City of Houston, the City of Bellaire, and Harris County Flood Control, TxDOT was able to build this project while being responsive to the needs of its neighbors.
As part of this project, TxDOT engineers worked in coordination with the Harris County Flood Control officials to ensure that this project properly integrated with the region’s existing stormwater drainage system. The project includes two massive detention ponds that sit directly below the interchange.
Four pump stations and underground pipes then retain massive amounts of stormwater and release it to area drainage systems only when it is safe to do so. In this way the flood and drainage infrastructure built into this project contributes significantly to storm resiliency for this portion of Houston.
The $259 million project — $87.5 million of which is through Texas Clear Lanes — improves safety and mobility while reducing congestion.
