Houston is a city plagued by ungodly traffic. Pair that with some of the country’s worst drivers, commuting in Houston is akin to a nightmarish Groundhog Day-like time loop lived over and over again. To make matters worse, TxDOT is closing southbound lanes off I-69 to the West Loop until 2024.
To those who are required to work in office, on site, or otherwise in person – our hearts go out to you. The seven-year reconstruction project of the two majorly trafficked highways will remain closed for its final two years. Beginning this Friday, April 29, city crews will close the crucial loop ramp until 2024 according to the Houston Chronicle.
The connector ramp, specifically, comes off the Southwest Freeway from areas inside the Loop, i.e. Downtown Houston, to 610 toward Bellaire, Memorial Park, and the Galleria.
Starting Friday, April 29 at 9pm, crews will close the I-69 SW Freeway southbound connector ramp to I-610 West Loop southbound for two years. Traffic will take the Fountain View Dr exit, u-turn to get onto the I-69 northound mainlanes to the I-610 southbound. pic.twitter.com/k9HwMiNtB1
— HOU610at69 (@HOU610at69) April 26, 2022
“The work is just to the point we have to do it,” said TxDOT interchange project spokesman, Danny Perez. “The upcoming work is going to have an effect, but it is also going to allow us to move toward completion.”
In the meantime, TxDOT advises southbound I-69 commuters dependent on the Loop 610 ramp to take the Fountain View exit, and U-turn at Fountain View. After which, commuters can continue on IH-69 to access the southbound loop.
TxDOT aims to improve the interchange by reconstructing single-lane connectors to double-lane connectors, upgrading design standards of the interchange, adding shoulders on I-610 West main lane bridge, eliminating major weaving, increasing vertical clearances as well as sight distances, and adding detention ponds.
Additionally, officials will also close the southbound Chimney Rock exit for a period of two months.
Let’s just hope it’s worth it.
See also: Texas Named State With The Worst Drivers