HOUSTON — Buckle up and brace yourselves for more traffic headaches in the Galleria area starting this weekend and continuing for two years.
It's part of the state's I-610 West Loop/ I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange project.
The video above is from previous reporting.
TxDOT has closed the 59/69 Southwest Freeway southbound connector ramp to 610 West Loop southbound for two years.
During the closure, traffic will continue on the I-69 Southwest Freeway southbound main lanes to the Fountain View Drive exit ramp, U-turn at Fountain View and continue onto the first entrance ramp onto the I-69 northbound main lanes. Traffic will then take the I-69 northbound connector ramp to the I-610 southbound main lanes.
To facilitate this work, there will be a number of additional ramp closures that will take place this coming weekend. These closures can be found at I-610 West Loop/ I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange project website at www.hou610at69.com.
Friday, May 6
One week from this Friday, crews will close the I-69 Southwest Freeway southbound exit ramp to Chimney Rock for about two months. Traffic will take the Fountain View exit ramp, U-turn at Fountain View onto I-69 Northbound Frontage Road to reach Chimney Rock Road.
These closures are part of the continued work on the I-610 West Loop main lane bridge over I-69 Southwest Freeway and the reconstruction of the new I-69 Southwest Freeway southbound connector ramp to I-610 West Loop southbound.
Motorists should expect delays the next two weekends and may want to consider an alternate route. Police officers will be onsite to assist with traffic control.
The I-69/I-610 interchange is a major connection point between two extremely busy highways serving the Greater Houston area. TxDOT says the $259 million project will "enhance safety and improve mobility by widening the connector ramps to two lanes, increasing sight distances and providing remedies to eliminate weaving."
The project has incentives and disincentives to encourage the contractor to complete various phases sooner than anticipated.