{"id":462867,"date":"2026-10-11T09:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-11T09:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/462867\/"},"modified":"2026-10-11T09:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-11T09:38:15","slug":"katy-freeway-hov-connector-closes-for-years-starting-tonight-heres-how-to-get-around-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/462867\/","title":{"rendered":"Katy Freeway HOV connector closes for years starting tonight. Here’s how to get around it"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eastbound access is expected to return in fall 2027, while westbound access won’t reopen until summer 2028.<\/p>\n

HOUSTON \u2014 Drivers who use the Katy Freeway HOV connector to get in and out of downtown Houston will need a new route starting Friday night.<\/p>\n

The two-way connector between I-10 near Studemont and downtown will close in both directions at 9 p.m. as part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s White Oak Bayou project.<\/p>\n


\n \"\" <\/p>\n


\n This story continues below. <\/p>\n

The closure does not affect the entire Katy Freeway HOV system. It is limited to the connector between Studemont and downtown.<\/p>\n

Crews plan to demolish the existing connector and build a replacement.<\/p>\n


\nWhen will the Katy Freeway HOV connector reopen? <\/p>\n

According to TxDOT’s projected timeline, eastbound access is expected to return in fall 2027. Westbound access is not expected to reopen until summer 2028.<\/p>\n


\nHow to get around the closure <\/p>\n

Drivers heading into downtown should remain on the regular I-10 eastbound lanes and take the Smith Street exit. Drivers leaving downtown can use Louisiana Street to access I-10 westbound.<\/p>\n

KHOU 11 traffic expert Jennifer Reyna said the project is intended to improve a congested area near downtown, including addressing flooding and narrow lanes.<\/p>\n

For commuters who use the connector regularly, the closure could mean additional traffic on the main lanes of I-10.<\/p>\n

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra travel time, particularly during the Monday morning commute.<\/p>\n

Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include your name and the best way to reach you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eastbound access is expected to return in fall 2027, while westbound access won’t reopen until summer 2028. HOUSTON…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":462868,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,58,57],"class_list":["post-462867","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-houston","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462867","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=462867"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/462867\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/462868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=462867"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=462867"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=462867"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}