JLWM8609

4 hours ago, cspwal said:

I'm sure the mods are doing the best they can, but the admin needs to step up to fix some of the broken site functionality

Editor and HAIF are the admins. Editor hasn't been online since June 18 and HAIF hasn't been online since August 2017.

The Crater Houston Alliance forum is the latest to suffer a spam attack. It's pretty sad that HAIF has been reduced to this. 

9 hours ago, kennyc05 said:

Why didn't they keep the old interchange?

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.

3 hours ago, ekdrm2d1 said:

 

Drove on the new ramp today. You can clearly see both the TMC and CBD skylines. Must be up really high!

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. 

4 hours ago, Timoric said:

Is there a need for a very nice suburban style 300K SF Retail Strip center right there to serve the Med Center, Rice, and all that stuff? With all the good stores people want

Meyerland Plaza pretty much serves that purpose. 

13 minutes ago, ekdrm2d1 said:

610 & Westpark and the 59 spurs is closed for the weekend. 610 is at a halt. Wonder what they are doing? They've been prepping all week, storing their stuff in the HCC parking lot.

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/

5 minutes ago, samagon said:

it will be worse for getting downtown than it used to be.

 

but for the people going south and north on 59 it will be far better, and there seems to be many more gulf freeway to 59 drivers than gulf freeway to downtown drivers, or they wouldn't have made the switch.

 

it might be quicker to get downtown to exit scott and get on the feeder, rather than stay on 45 to the "downtown exit"

 

Some drivers might opt to use the HOT lane that feeds into St. Joseph Pkwy. to get downtown if congestion pricing is in effect.

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

4 hours ago, samagon said:

 

For the amount of concrete, I think it's going to be 2 lanes that exit for downtown.

 

 

it's part of the good news:

The good news
The Gulf Freeway connector to I-69 northbound through downtown Houston is scheduled to open in August, along with the at-grade exit to St. Joseph Parkway and Pease Street.

 

ultimately, you get 3 options:

 

1. exit at the st.joseph/pease exit and enter 59 south at webster street.

 

2. stay on 45, exit for i-10 east, exit for 59 south.

 

3. exit 45 for 59 north, exit 59 for i10 west, exit i10 for 45 south, exit 45 for 59 south.

 

Option 3 would be easier by exiting I-69/US 59 NB at Lyons and making a u-turn back onto I-69/US 59 SB, or exiting I-69/US 59 NB to I-10 WB, taking the San Jacinto/Main exit and making a u-turn back onto I-10 EB and onto I-69/US 59 SB.

 

The ramp closure is going to be a PIA for people heading to 288 SB from I-45 NB as well. Fortunately, if you're coming in from outside 610 or near 610, you can take 610 WB to 288.  

 

 

4 minutes ago, ADCS said:

Any clue as to why the bridge aesthetics are so spartan, and not in line with the regional design plan?

 

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

15 hours ago, cspwal said:

I think they are designed to work with the 45 project

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

I saw a truck on the property taking core samples today.

TxDOT has posted schematics for the Alvin Expressway from its current terminus at OST to south of 610. The interesting thing is the proposed stack interchange at 610 which will tower over the Mykawa/Griggs/Long intersection that has multiple railroad crossings going through it.

https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/projects/studies/houston/sh-35-harris-county.html 

On 11/12/2017 at 10:04 AM, IronTiger said:

I need to see the Gulf/Ace Hardware too soon as that seems to be on the hit list as well. Where are the site plans for this?

 

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.

21 hours ago, IronTiger said:

288's mainlanes look like they're being rebuilt anyway, so "designed for 55" isn't an issue. If it was just the toll roads, the main lanes wouldn't be a mess at all, save for some nightly closures on the inner lanes, at best. The original 610/288 interchange, which is being rebuilt as well, had some ramps "stubbed out" for future connections.

 

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. 

18 hours ago, cspwal said:

Quite possible.  I wonder what the design speed of the mainlanes v the new toll lanes is

 

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?

8 hours ago, Twitter1 said:

This is at 45 & 59.  Not sure where the thread is. 

 

 

On 3/23/2018 at 10:53 AM, htownbro said:

They won't be an international city.  Alot of people say ATL is not as diverse as H-town.

Yet they managed to become the North American HQ for Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. 

 

I think Cargolux 747s still serve IAH, but good luck getting a seat there.