JLWM8609

Fuddruckers is closed. I pass by there on a semi-regular basis and it shut down sometime in November or December 2018.

So the last cloverleaf interchange in Houston will be replaced with the first SPUI in Houston. Interesting!

I passed by the other day and it looks like they've started powerwashing the exterior.

Looks like the San Jacinto St. extension will happen with the relocation of I-45/I-10. It'll be a tunnel underneath the freeway and the railroad with connections to the feeder road. You can see it in the presentation. http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nhhip/north/Public Meeting_North Side_Final Rev.pdf

Plans state construction of the tollway extension won't be complete until March 2023. The goal is to have the I-45 reroute around Downtown complete by 2026. There are stubouts in the current interchange to accommodate the Hardy extension, but I don't know if they'll briefly use them to access the Hardy extension until the new interchange is complete.

According to an old topographic map from the early 20s, Old Main was the original route before the current route was built. Main St. ended at current day Holcombe. Main Street Road intersected with Main St. near its terminus. That part of Main Street Road still exists in the Medical Center as a small stub called Old Main St. between Main and Fannin. Main Street Road then followed current day Fannin and Knight Rd before jogging to the SW and crossing the tracks to join the route parallel to the tracks (currently US90A). The maps don't say what the road parallel to the tracks was called back then, but it was probably known as Holmes Rd.

I saw some in Austin over the weekend.

To accommodate the relocated mainlanes and add connections to and from the new toll lanes. They're also throwing in a direct connector to Almeda Rd.

You can see the 610 ship channel bridge from the ramp from 610 EB to 288 NB. You couldn't see it before on the older ramp. These new ramps are pretty high, but since the interchange is a four level stack, the ramp is not as high as some of the ramps on the Beltway's five level stacks. I also like the geometrics of the new ramp.

Meyerland Plaza pretty much serves that purpose.

I just passed by there. Looks like they're removing the highway sign gantry in front of HCC.

The new ramps from 610 EB to 288 NB and 610 WB to 288 SB will be opening up this weekend. https://abc13.com/traffic/major-milestone-new-hwy-288-ramps-to-open-at-south-loop/3921854/

The Gary Herod memorial tree at Meyerland Plaza was cut down. An arborist determined the tree was in decline and was going to die. There were also worries that the tree and plaque would be damaged in the construction of the new HEB. The plaque has been moved to Herod Elem., the tree was given to the Woodworkers Club of Houston which will use the wood for souvenirs including possibly a cane for Herod's wife, or a memorial bench at a proposed new park dedicated to Herod on Brays Bayou. Additionally, some seedlings were given to the Herod Family. The new park will be closer to the original crash site. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-Air-National-Guard-jet-crash-memorial-tree-13090100.php

They're expanding the parking lot at the strip center. All of those businesses stay packed. https://www.facebook.com/RaysBBQShack/posts/1990386190983393

My guess is to fit in better with the older structures from the 70s and 80s that the new bridges are tying into.

They are. They appear in the latest schematics. Interestingly enough, the brand new I-45 NB bridge over White Oak bayou won't be used in the new project.

1. Scanlan Fountain (Sam Houston Park, downtown) 2. Smith Fountain (Smith at Clay, downtown) 3. Hermann Square (City Hall, downtown) 4. Main Street Square (downtown) 5.Tranquility Park (downtown) 6. Jones Plaza (downtown) 7. Downtown Aquarium water table (downtown) 8. Allen Center Courtyard (downtown) 9. Downtown Aquarium water wall (downtown) 10. Cotswold #1, Preston @ Smith (downtown) 11. Cotswold #2, Preston @ Louisiana (downtown) 12. Cotswold #3, Preston @ Market Square (downtown) 13. Cotswold #4, Preston @ Main (downtown) 14. Cotswold #5, Preston @Main (downtown) 15. Cotswold #6, Preston @ San Jacinto (downtown) 16. Cotswold #7, Preston @ Caroline (downtown) 17. Cotswold #8, Preston @ Crawford (downtown) 18. Cotswold #9, Prairie @ Travis (downtown) 19. Misttree (Discovery Green, downtown) 20. Water jet table (Discovery Green, downtown) 21. 1100 Louisiana fountain (downtown) 22. Wells Fargo Plaza water wall (downtown) 23. Sesquicentennial Park (downtown) 24. Wortham Fountain (Buffalo Bayou Park) 25. Mecom Fountain (Museum District) 26. Wortham Park fountain (Medical Center) 27. Medical Center Commons water wall (Medical Center) 28. HMNS sundial fountain (Museum Disrict) 29. HMNI floating sphere fountain (Museum District) 30. Hermann Park Reflecting pool fountain (Museum District) 31. Hermann Park McGovern Lake fountain (Museum District) 32. George Hermann statue fountain (Museum District) 33. Midtown Square (midtown) 34. South Main Baptist (midtown) 35. Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza fountain (Museum District) 36. MFAH entry plaza fountain (Museum District) 37. MFAH outdoor dining fountain (Museum District) 38. Caruth Plaza fountain (Reliant Park) 39. Brockman Hall for Physics (Rice U) 40. Jones College Fountain (Rice U) 41. Brochstein Pavilion fountain (Rice U) 42. Jamail Plaza (Rice U) 43. Charlotte Allen Fountain (Baldwin Park, midtown) 44. The Transco Waterwall (Uptown) 45. Hidalgo Park fountain (Uptown) 46. Post Oak Central fountain (Uptown) 47. Uptown Park fountain (Uptown) 48. Royal Sonesta (Uptown) 49. Lakes on Post Oak (Uptown) 50. America Tower (Allen Parkway) 51. Amli (?) apartments (Allen Parkway) 52. Humble Tower hotel building fountain (downtown) 53. Market Square 9/11 fountain (downtown) 54. Cotswold #12, Congress @ Market Square (downtown) 55. Root Memorial Square (downtown) 56. Sisters of Charity Park (downtown) 57. Contemporary Arts Museum (Museum District) 58. Christ Church Cathedral (downtown) 59. Cullen Plaza Fountain (UH) 60. MD Anderson Library fountain (UH) 61. The Williams Fountain (HBU) 62.Farish Hall fountain (UH) 63. Regency Square 64. Fountainview 1 65. Fountainview 2 66. Fountainview 3 67. Waterway Square fountain 1 (The Woodlands) 68. Market Street Square fountain (The Woodlands) 69. Woodlands Waterway fountain (The Woodlands) 70. Waterway Square fountain 2 (The Woodlands) 71. City Centre Plaza fountain (City Centre) 72. Peggy's Point Plaza (Midtown) 73. Hobby Airport (Hobby) 74. Kingwood entrance fountains (Kingwood) 75. The Fountains Shopping Center (Stafford) 76. Reliant Park South Main fountains (Reliant Park) 77. Memorial Hermann (Medical Center) 78.Baylor College of Medicine (Medical Center) 79. MD Anderson on Holcombe Blve (Medical Center) 80. MD Anderson at MD Anderson and Holcombe (Medical Center) 81. Asia Society Texas (Museum District) 82. Bell Park (Museum District) 83. Houston Methodist West (Katy Freeway) 84. Texas Childrens West (Katy Freeway) 85. Rosenberg Fountain, 31st & Seawall (Galveston) 86. Rosenberg Fountain, 12th & Ball (Galveston) 87. Rosenberg Fountain, 15th & Ball (Galveston) 88. Rosenberg Fountain, 20th & N1/2 (Galveston) 89. Rosenberg Fountain, 21st & Ball (Galveston) 90. Rosenberg Fountain, 21st & Post Office (Galveston) 91. Rosenberg Library Fountain, 24th & Ball (Galveston) 92. The Heron, Ashton Villa (Galveston) 93. San Luis (Galveston) 94. Moody Gardens (Galveston) 95. Chase Tower (downtown) 96. Jones Hall (downtown) 97. Guadalupe Plaza Park (East Downtown) 98. Kugel Ball Fountain (Hermann Park) 99. Hyde Park Fountain, Lamar Park (Montrose) 100. Lilian Schnitzer Fountain (Hermann Park) 101. Neuhaus Fountain, Sam Houston Park (Downtown) 102. Sleepy Hollow Fountain, Sleepy Hollow Park, Houston 103. Sugar Land Town Square (Sugar Land) 104. The Woodlands Mall 1 at the waterway (The Woodlands) 105. The Woodlands Mall 2 at the waterway (The Woodlands) 106. Anadarko Tower (The Woodlands) 107. 1455 West Loop South (Uptown) 108. Landry's HQ 1 (Uptown) 109. Landry's HQ 2 (Uptown) 110. Hess Tower (Downtown) 111. Second Baptist (Houston) 112. The Diana Fountain, Bayou Bend, MFAH (River Oaks) 113. Mrs. Parker's Fountain, Rienzi, MFAH (River Oaks) 114. Cascading fountain, Rienzi, MFAH (River Oaks) 115. East Garden fountain, Bayou Bend, MFAH (River Oaks) 116. Kemah Boardwalk 1 (Bay Area) 117. Kemah Boardwalk 2 (Bay Area) 118. One Sugar Creek Place fountain (Sugar Land) 119. Sugar Creek entry fountains (Sugar Land) 120. Brazos Town Center fountain (Rosenberg) 121. City of Rosenberg south welcome sign/waterfall (Rosenberg) 122. George Memorial Library Amphitheater Fountain (Richmond) 123. KBR Tower, Cullen Center (Downtown) 124. Hong Kong Mall 125. St. Paul's Methodist Church 126. One Post Oak Central, Apache (Uptown) 127. Courthouse Square, Family Law Center (Downtown) 128. Cotswold #10, Congress @ Main (Downtown) 129. Cotswold #11, Congress @ Main (Downtown) 130. 5050 Westheimer (Uptown) 131. Kings Harbor (Kingwood) 132. Green Street 1 (Downtown) 133. Green Street 2 (Downtown) 134. Green Street 3 (Downtown) 135. Memorial City Treehouse (Memorial City) 136. Nexen Building (Memorial City) 137. Cobalt 1 (Memorial City) 138. Cobalt 2 (Memorial City) 139. Air Liquide Building 1 (Memorial City) 140. Air Liquide Building 2 (Memorial City) 141. Murphy 1 (Memorial City) 142. Murphy 2 (Memorial City) 143. The Fountains at Memorial City (Memorial City) 144. 2929 Weslayan 145. 1455 West Loop South (Uptown) 146. The Mound- Centennial Gardens (Hermann Park) 147. Pavilion fountain- Centennial Gardens (Hermann Park) 148. Hanover Southampton 149. Hotel ZaZa - Memorial City (Memorial City) 150. Wings Over Water @ Avenida Houston (Downtown) 151. Glassell School of Art - Brown Foundation Plaza (Museum District) 152. Catalyst - 1475 Texas Ave. (Downtown) 153. Harmonica Man Park (?) Brazos and Pease (Downtown) 154. Camden Pavilion Fountain - Midtown Park (Midtown) 155. Waterfalls - Midtown Park (Midtown) 156. Energy Center Five (Energy Corridor) 157. Citgo headquarters (Energy Corridor) 158. First Baptist (Houston) 159. HEB Montrose Market (Montrose) 160. MLK Humanities Building (TSU)

Almost 8 years after I created this thread, it looks like the first new Wienerschnitzel in the Houston area will finally open. It'll be in New Caney. https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/east-montgomery/news/article/Wienerschnitzel-opening-first-Houston-area-12979391.php

FYI: The Gulf/Ace Hardware is getting ready to close in preparation of the new ramp. Employees don't know when the closure is happening, just that it'll be "any day". Everything in the Ace Hardware portion of the store is 25% off.

Not necessarily. The schematics I've seen for the project don't show the mainlanes being rebuilt. The mainlanes may be a mess in some places where they have to shift the traffic to make room for construction of the toll lanes. Once they're done with the project, most of those mainlanes will be restriped to their original condition or possibly given an asphalt overlay.

288's mainlanes have a 60 mph speed limit in that area, but they were probably designed with a 55 MPH design speed since the schematics for that section date from the mid 70s when the national 55 mph speed limit was in effect. I wouldn't be surprised if the toll lanes are designed for a 65 or even 70 mph speed limit.

An interesting thing I've noticed is that it appears the toll lanes are going to have a slight bank in the curve just north of Brays Bayou. The mainlanes stay pretty flat on the same curve. I guess design standards have changed since the 70s when the 288 mainlanes were originally engineered?

The Downtown Connector in Atlanta has a few intersections above it. They just construct a very wide bridge to accommodate the intersection https://goo.gl/maps/iU7kGxtXMby Another contributor to the traffic is the two left lanes branching away to become Spur 527. You have people weaving to get over to 527 and people weaving from the left lanes to stay on 59/69. This would be a good opportunity for them to relocate the 527 exit to the right lanes. I went to one of the neighborhood meetings and suggested it, but one of the workers said they thought it couldn't be done. I think it could be done. There's enough space since there'll be the same number of lanes. The only difference which side the exit is on. It'd just be a shifting of lanes and structures in the same space. Since the freeway will be depressed, there won't be a need for a high flying flyover. I guess they also might want to keep the Spur 527 exit ramp and HOV ramp on one structure, and having a Spur 527 exit from the right side would mean two separate structures.

They demolished all the greenery in the median between Southmore and Binz/Calumet yesterday. I wondered why they planted those trees there in the first place in 2006 knowing that toll lanes would cause them to be ripped out in the not too distant future. One thing I liked about the greenery was that it eliminated rubbernecking when there was an accident on the opposing side.