Provided TxDOT
An overhead look of Interstate 10 as TxDOT continues construction work.
Multiple lane and connector ramp closures along Interstate 10 in Houston — some of which will last until mid-2026 — are slated to begin this week as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) continues work on the I-10 White Oak Bayou Elevation Project.
The westbound stretch of I-10, also known locally as the Katy Freeway, will be reduced to two lanes between I-45 and Houston Avenue starting Thursday night or Friday morning, according to a TxDOT spokesperson. The lane reduction, originally scheduled to take place in late October before being postponed, is expected to last until mid-2026.
“This closure is necessary to complete the construction of the new elevated westbound mainlanes, which will overlap the footprint of the existing westbound mainlanes,” TxDOT said in a news release.
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Four connector ramps between I-10 and I-45 also will be closed, with one of the closures expected to last until mid-2026 and another until mid-2028. The other two connector ramp closures are only for this weekend.
Two freeway entrance ramp closures also are planned for this weekend, when there will be a total closure of the I-10 westbound mainlanes between Hogan Street and Taylor Street, according to TxDOT.
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The traffic changes are part of the $407 million I-10 White Oak Bayou project that is designed to reduce flood risks. According to TxDOT, the White Oak Bayou section of I-10 has been inundated by flood waters 10 times since March 1992, including during Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019.
I-10 westbound had already been reduced to three lanes from I-45 to Studemont Street, according to TxDOT.
The upcoming phase of construction will include the relocation of the Houston Avenue Bridge underneath the newly elevated I-10. However, according to TxDOT, the demolition of the current Houston Avenue Bridge is not expected to take place until early 2027.
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The Houston Avenue Bridge has been plagued for years by repeated strikes by motorists passing underneath it. The most recent strike occurred earlier this fall, when a semi-truck’s load was too high to pass underneath the bridge.
Here are more details about the project-related traffic closures, along with detour information as provided by TxDOT.
Total closure of the I-10 westbound mainlanes from I-45 Gulf/Hogan St. to Taylor St. from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, until 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8. This closure will reduce the mainlanes from three to two lanes of traffic until mid-2026. Suggested detour: Motorists traveling on I-45 northbound who want to access I-10 westbound can continue north on I-45 and use the connector ramp to I-610 westbound and continue on I-610, then use the ramp to I-10 to access I-10 eastbound or westbound.
Total closure of the I-10 eastbound connector ramp to I-45 northbound from the morning of Friday, Dec. 5, until project completion, estimated for mid-2028. Suggested detour: Motorists traveling east on I-10 who want to access I-45 north can use the connector ramp to I-610 northbound, continue along I-610 and then use the connector ramp to I-45 either northbound or southbound.
Total closure of the I-45 southbound connector ramp to I-10 westbound, including the HOV lane, from the morning of Friday, Dec. 5 until mid-2026. Suggested detour: Motorists traveling south on I-45 who want to access the I-10 westbound mainlanes can continue onto I-45 and use the connector ramp to I-10 eastbound, exit at McKee/Hardy Street, make a left turn onto Hardy Street, make a left turn onto Providence Street and use the entrance ramp from Providence to access I-10.
Total closure of the I-10 westbound entrance ramp from Louisiana Avenue, from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, until 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8. Suggested detour: Motorists traveling on Louisiana Street who want to access I-10 westbound can turn right at Franklin Street and then turn left at Travis Street to merge onto I-45 northbound, following the detour to access I-10 westbound.
Total closure of the I-10 westbound connector ramp to I-45 Gulf/Hogan St. southbound, from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, until 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8. Suggested detour: Motorists traveling I-10 westbound who want to access I-45 can exit I-45 northbound, take the connector ramp to I-610 westbound, continue on I-610 westbound, use the connector ramp to I-10 eastbound and follow the mainlanes to access I-45 southbound.
Total closure of the I-45 northbound connector ramp to I-10 from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 until 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8. Suggested detour: Motorists traveling I-45 northbound who want to access I-10 westbound can continue along I-45 north and use the connector ramp to I-610 west and continue to I-610, using the connector ramp to I-10.
Total closure of the I-45 southbound entrance ramp from North Main Street from 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5 until 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 8. Suggested detour: Motorists traveling on North Main Street who want to access I-45 south can continue along North Main, turn left onto the I-45 service road, proceed northbound, make a U-turn at Patton Street and use the next available entrance ramp to enter I-45.