LoveCowboy

Spotted construction crews on Segment H after months of nothing.

Yup... from what I can tell, Webber has taken over that section.  Good to have a known quantity in charge there.

Just to wrap this thread up... it did indeed open on Friday.  I've taken it 3 times now.  Definitely good for the traffic flow, even with the new traffic light near the end.  

Yup... came here to post the same thing and you beat me to it.  Only two more days of taking the old exit for me... about time

Ok now I'm really getting annoyed.  The traffic light at Dillard St. went operational yesterday, but as of this morning the southbound connector is still closed. How much you want to bet that the yahoos at the city forgot to tell Webber they're done?

Actually there has been progress... those signal lights themselves just got hung this week, and I did actually see crews out there yesterday.  So maybe soon finally

Well... I guess in the opinion of some my "no reason for a light" comment is incorrect. I emailed Webber to ask what the holdup might be, and I actually got a response. They said this:

"At the South end of the project on Shepherd, (Dillards St)there is a school crossing and the community leaders request a signal light due to increase of traffic exiting from the connector. Webber was ready to open about a Month ago but have to wait until signal light and proper roadway stripping in place. Now is schedule to open August 24th."

So there you have it

The traffic signals they're installing aren't at Rittenhouse... they're at another street slightly south.  I'm kind of upset about that btw... another light diminishes the positive impact of the project in my opinion.  And there's no reason for a light at that street.

Allow the concrete to cure?

I dunno man... the concrete's been in place for a while.. they've already striped it and everything

Ok now this southbound connector is ticking me off... they looked like they were almost done, and then nothing... I haven't seen any noticeable work in over a week.  I wonder what the holdup is?

Still haven't heard when southbound is opening... but it's looking imminent... it appears that they striped it this past weekend and I've seen crews out there working hard this week

I saw it from the air last weekend.  It is quite far along.  I was surprised; didn't realize it was proceeding that quickly. 

Well if they're going to have it done by the end of this year as originally stated, they'd better be proceeding that quickly. 

Building a brand new freeway in an already-clear right-of-way can go rather quickly as compared to something like the 290 widening which requires allowing people to still use the thing at the same time. 

I drove it this morning on the way to Greenspoint. It is much better, but a little disconcerting. I had the strangest feeling I wasn't in Houston momentarily. Never seen Vets Memorial and Shepherd from that elevation before and it's a bit odd on the first pass. Couldn't agree with you more, LoveCowboy. That SB ramp opening is what I eagerly await opening as well. Just look at how bad the feeder road was flooded between Little York and Gulf Bank yesterday, resulting in 45 being snarled most of the evening. That ramp will help to alleviate some of the problem once it's opened.

Actually I didn't get to see that yesterday because I was at work until 9:30 for monthend, but I did see something similar on a rainy day last week

I've driven the northbound connector itself now.  A lot better than trying to enter from the left. Still, southbound is the one I'm REALLY looking forward to as that ought to really shave some time off my ride home (I've got a reverse commute)

OK I just heard a report on KHOU that the northbound connector is actually going to be open at NOON TODAY!!

Unfortunately, they also said that southbound won't open until "later this year."  Now who knows what that means, maybe just in a few weeks... I can't imagine it will be that long with as close to being finished as they are.  But still... that's a little annoying.

EDIT: ok they just talked about it again and this time said "later this summer".. a little better

When you said it was opening on Monday, did you mean the whole project, or just the northbound connector?  The southbound connector doesn't quite look as close to being done as northbound does. 

I've always suspected Canino had its own exit due to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles being located right there. There was never a Canino exit going SB, but there has always (at least as far as I go back) been one going NB.

Why was there nary a mention of a Stuebner Airline/Vets Memorial exit on either direction of 45, until this flyover was built? You just had to know that to access Vets Memorial, you had to use the exit for Little York? Not very friendly to those drivers unfamiliar with the area. Just one of several gaffes that have plagued the North Freeway during my lifetime.

I'm wondering if TXDOT has figured out how to spell cemetery yet. For reference, check the VA sign on EB BW8, next time you're in the area.

Well it definitely wouldn't have made sense to have a Canino exit southbound because Canino doesn't intersect the southbound frontage road.  

Which would likely be the same reason there was no mention of Veterans Memorial northbound.  Why no mention of Veterans Memorial southbound until now is more puzzling, but maybe it has something to do with how little sense it makes to head outbound on Veterans Memorial if you're headed inbound on I-45... though it's certainly worth adding to the sign now.  

The Shepherd flyover officially opens next Monday, June 29th. It still needs clean up, greenery, and a coat of paint (or two). Get ready North Freeway drivers, the awkward left lane entrance ramp from Shepherd becomes a memory in 7 short days.

R.I.P. Canino exit. Noticed this weekend it has become the Gulf Bank exit, with nary a mention of Canino. I suppose with the DMV long gone, Canino is no longer a priority, nor worthy of its longtime exit, to TXDOT.

Why should a road that does not have a traffic light or even a stop sign on the frontage roads be listed on the exit sign?  I thought it was bizarre it had it's own exit ramp to begin with.

Oh... there's schematics?  I didn't see those.  Do you have a link?

I still have questions.  Given the wacky design of the current interchange, how in the world are they going to go about the construction process while keeping it open? 

So.... getting back on topic

There is one big elephant in the room that does not appear to have been specifically addressed in the TxDOT proposal, though surely it has to be part of the plan... what are they going to do with that god-awful interchange at the North Freeway and loop 610?  

Guys, in case you didn't click the link, Little York is the longest and The Art Guys walked the whole thing, so yes, it's continuous.

The continuous section of Little York may well be the longest, but Little York as a whole is not continous.  Why are you folks ignoring the segment off the East Belt?

alrighty then.  Just getting impatient I guess.  I looks like all the substantial construction is done, it looks like they still need to stripe the southbound connector and touch up a few more things, so hopefully it will be done any day now

Anyone know a date when this project is supposed to be finished?  It looks really close but I drive by it every day so it's like watching water boil.  Really looking forward to starting to use it.