HOUSTON — A traffic nightmare begins this weekend for those who travel on I-610 or U.S. 59.
TxDOT closed a portion of I-610 where U.S. 59 crosses over it so they can install beams as part of a six-year construction project that the department believes will improve traffic flow and increase safety on the state's two most congested highways.
"It’s going to be a major impact for the traveling public. There’s no way you can do it without disrupting traffic flow," said Danny Perez, a spokesperson for TxDOT. "The city is growing, and we’re trying to address that growth, not just for today, but for the coming years, and this traffic hopefully will get the traffic flowing."
Both the north and southbound lanes of 610 will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday night to 5 a.m. Monday morning for the weekends of Jan. 31 through Feb. 3, Feb. 7 through Feb. 10, Feb. 14 through Feb. 17, and Feb. 21 through Feb. 24.
Crews will continue work on the I-610 West Loop northbound connector ramp to I-69 Southwest Freeway southbound as part of the I-610/I-69 interchange project. Motorists traveling northbound on I-610 West Loop northbound will detour to I-610 frontage road to re-enter the mainlanes of I-610 northbound. Motorists traveling southbound on I-610 West Loop will detour to I-69 southbound, exit at Chimney Rock, U-turn at Chimney Rock to reach the I-69 northbound mainlanes and take the direct connector from I-69 northbound to I-610 southbound.
TXDOT created a website and social media pages for people to follow the progress. They encourage drivers to check Transtar cameras, too.
They are asking drivers to find other ways around, or simply leave lots of extra time to get to their destinations.
Perez said more than 250,000 cars travel over each of the two highways.
"It’s going to be your worst nightmare all the time," said Chris Martin, who lives near the interchange. "You’re going to have to just be calm, because it’s going to take you four times as long to get where you’re going."
The I-610/ I-69 interchange is a major connection point of two of the most congested highways in the state of Texas. TXDOT said the $259 million project will significantly 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.
"If that can help alleviate some of this on a regular basis, that would be great," Martin said.