Highway 288 & Beltway 8 Interchange

[Perimeter285]

Let me preface this by saying I do not live in Pearland or any other suburb for that matter. I just travel in this direction quite often.

What is the deal with the 288-Beltway interchange? I've heard absolutely no talk of upgrading it to a full interchange or even just adding a few flyovers. It's ridiculous that two freeways are joined by a series of traffic lights, and as the Pearland area has grown exponentially the traffic situation at the interchange has only gotten worse.

Has anyone heard anything about upgrading the interchange?

Forgive me if this topic has been discussed before but I didn't see anything.

[illusionescape]

TxDOT has the project in it's long-term planning studies, which can be found on its website. If I recall correctly, I think it was planned for the 2015-2020 time frame, although I doubt it was for all 8 flyover ramps at one time.

However, the project could be constructed sooner if HCTRA decides to add it to its future tollway system. If so, it would resemble the flyover ramp from Beltway 8 eastbound to SH 249 northbound, which HCTRA built and requires an EZ Tag for use.

[CoolBuddy06]

I am one of those patiently waiting for that too. These links might help a little:

ftp://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/hou/sh288_us59/official_record.pdf

http://www.paradigmconsultants.com/files/301_Beltway_8_-_288_Bridge.pdf

http://houstonstrategies.blogspot.com/2007/02/big-plans-for-288-but-it-could-be.html

There is a before-and-after picture of the interchange hiding somewhere in the TxDOT document.

I don't think that you need the caveat about where you live.

[CDeb]

For the 288 tollway project, HCTRA is considering tollway-to-tollway direct connectors, but that isn't set in stone. I don't know anything about direct connectors to the 288 mainlanes.

[CoolBuddy06]

For the 288 tollway project, HCTRA is considering tollway-to-tollway direct connectors, but that isn't set in stone. I don't know anything about direct connectors to the 288 mainlanes.

If that's what they plan on doing then I'm sure 288 mainlanes users will have to go wait at the light under the bridges, or cough up $1 for faster connection.

[Perimeter285]

If that's what they plan on doing then I'm sure 288 mainlanes users will have to go wait at the light under the bridges, or cough up $1 for faster connection.

Yeah that would be crappy, though typical, of HCTRA.

[CoogieHowlser]

Since BW-8 and 288 are both state highways, Texas has to pay for the entire cost of the interchange. That's why 225 has no ramps and 249 only has three. Even if HCTRA gets involved with BW8/288, I still doubt there will be any flyover ramps soon. Hardy/BW8 only has one ramp, FtBend/BW8 has none, Westpark/BW8 is cheaply built, and I think Westpark/99 has one ramp.

[JLWM8609]

Since BW-8 and 288 are both state highways, Texas has to pay for the entire cost of the interchange.

Keep in mind that the Beltway 8 designation only applies to the feeder roads. The mainlanes are the Sam Houston Tollway, which is what the ramps from 288 would connect to. That means TxDOT and HCTRA would likely split the bill if the time came to build an interchange.

[CoolBuddy06]

Keep in mind that the Beltway 8 designation only applies to the feeder roads. The mainlanes are the Sam Houston Tollway, which is what the ramps from 288 would connect to. That means TxDOT and HCTRA would likely split the bill if the time came to build an interchange.

Thanks for always keeping us honest about street and freeway names.

[JLWM8609]

Thanks for always keeping us honest about street and freeway names.

No prob. However, there's one exception regarding our beloved ring road in which the mainlanes and feeder roads are designated Beltway 8, and that's the section between I-45 and US 59 near IAH. It was built in the late 60s and early 70s as a route to IAH. It's not tolled and it's maintained by TxDOT. But once you go west of I-45 or east of US 59, the mainlaines become tolled and the Beltway 8 designation is once again banished to the feeder roads. I also think that the bridge over the Ship Channel may be designated as Beltway 8 as well. Quirky, ain't it?

[CoogieHowlser]

No prob. However, there's one exception regarding our beloved ring road in which the mainlanes and feeder roads are designated Beltway 8, and that's the section between I-45 and US 59 near IAH. It was built in the late 60s and early 70s as a route to IAH. It's not tolled and it's maintained by TxDOT. But once you go west of I-45 or east of US 59, the mainlaines become tolled and the Beltway 8 designation is once again banished to the feeder roads. I also think that the bridge over the Ship Channel may be designated as Beltway 8 as well. Quirky, ain't it?

Also, the mainlanes and frontage rds between US90 and San Jacinto Port Blvd (last free exit before the bridge) are designated as BW8. The ship channel bridge is not considered BW8 because it ends at San Jac. Pt Blvd and starts up again at 225.

Regarding the 288/BW8 interchange, even with HCTRA involvement, building all eight ramps in the next ten years is unlikely. TXDOT and HCTRA still haven't finished the partial interchange at 249 (one ramp is still missing). The only way I could think that all eight ramps would be built is if HCTRA charges a separate toll to use the flyover ramps.