TRANSPORTATIONUPDATES Loop610/I 69 interchangeworkmoves ahead
COMPILED BY MATT DULIN AND HUNTER MARROW
PROJECT UPDATES
With lanes cleared of almost all tra c, work is progressing on the Loop 610/I-69 interchange project. “We are making great progress and taking every opportunity to acceler- ate work where we can,” said Danny Perez, spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation. “Our goal has always been to complete this project as quickly as possible while also minimizing impacts to the traveling public.” The project marked a milestone April 19 with the opening of the new I-69 northbound ramp to Loop
610 southbound, which has its own Fournace Place exit ramp, allowing trips from Southwest Houston into Bellaire without having to get on the Loop itself, Perez said. The $259 million, yearslong project is showing more visible signs of prog- ress, with more to come this spring and summer. Project goals include expanding the capacity of highway connector ramps in all directions from one lane to two, improving sight lines and distances, and reducing tra c weaving that occurs at ramps. Final completion is slated for 2024.
West University Place City Council approved new intersection enhancements for Bu alo Speedway. (Hunter Marrow/Community Impact Newspaper) 59
Sunset, Fannin and Main intersection The Sunset/Main/Fannin Safe Streets project is expected to wrap up later this spring. The contractor has nished un- derground utility work, reconstruction of concrete curbs and landscaping. The contractor is installing signal heads and related wiring connections. The next phase includes signal testing, installa- tion of the vehicle detection system, pavement markings and signage. Two bicycling fatalities at the intersection in 2017 and 2018 prompted the redesign. Timeline: summer 2019-spring 2020 Bu alo Speedway reconstruction West University Place City Council has approved gear-shaped bases for street light poles that will be enhancements to the project—a $260,000 cost by the city in three locations along the project corridor. The project design was about 95% complete as of mid-April. After ad- ditional consultation and collaboration, city-hired engineering rms will send the design back to the department of transportation in late May, with a nal design completed sometime in June. The city will go out to bid between June and November. Actual construction is estimated to start in January 2021.
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PROJECT MILESTONES
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COMING SOON: 1 The old I-69 north to Loop 610 South ramp will be demolished in the coming weeks, making way for new work. 2 Sometime in May, the Loop 610 South exit to Fournace Place and the 3 Hidalgo Street/ Westheimer Road southbound entrance ramp onto Loop 610 South are expected to open. 4 Also in May, the Fournace Place ramp to Loop 610 South will close. 5 By late summer, the I-69 north frontage road from Loop 610 to Newcastle Drive is expected to be complete. 6 After that, major work will proceed on the Loop 610 South to I-69 north ramp as well as the Loop 610 North to I-69 South ramp, which will involve intermittent main lane closures of both freeways.
UNIVERSITY BLVD.
610
W. HOLCOMBE BLVD.
69
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Timeline: October 2018-2023 Cost: $32.56 million Funding sources: city of West University Place, TxDOT, federal grants
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1
HIDALGO ST.
6
610
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69
5
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HERMANN PARK
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610
Cost: $900,000 Funding sources: city of Houston, Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF APRIL 23. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT BMWNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM.
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BELLAIRE MEYERLAND WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION • MAY 2020
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