TXDOT CONTRACTOR PREPARES FOR I-10/BELTWAY 8 CLOSURES
"New Beltway 8 Frontage Road "Flyover" Bridges Expected to Help Alleviate Congestion Due to Closures"
(Houston) Texas Department of Transportation's contractor for the I-10/Beltway 8 Interchange reconstruction is preparing for the closure of the first two I-10/Beltway 8 Interchange direct connector ramps which is scheduled to occur at 10 PM, Friday, April 6, 2007. Closures that were once scheduled to take up to 24 months beginning in January 2007 has now been shortened by as much as 10 months with a brief overlap of three connectors closed simultaneously at two separate intervals. The first ramps to be taken out of service will be the Beltway 8 southbound direct connectors to I-10/Katy Freeway westbound and eastbound. Approximately three weeks later, the third direct connector, Beltway 8 northbound to I-10/Katy Freeway eastbound, will also be taken out of service.
In preparation for the direct connector closures, TxDOT is pleased to announce that the southbound frontage road "flyover" bridge is now open to traffic and the northbound "flyover" bridge is expected to open Saturday, March 31. The opening of these two bridges is expected to yield noticeable improvements in the area's traffic flow. Motorists not needing to make turning movements at the I-10/Beltway 8 intersections can now bypass that intersection relieving some of the congestion in the area. Additionally, the detention ponds associated with the drainage improvements in the area are scheduled to be fully operational prior to the direct connector closures. These and a number of other surface road improvements were prioritized by TxDOT for early completion to ensure traffic movement in the area could be maximized during the scheduled direct connector closures.
More details regarding phasing, timing and duration for each of the closures including suggested detours can be accessed using the Katy Freeway website link http://www.katyfreeway.org/ContractD_dc3.html.
