TX 288/South Freeway Expansion To Brazoria County Moving Ahead

[editor]

This just in...

TxDOT, Houston-Area Partners Advance Two High-Profile Projects

Department moving forward with development on SH 288, US 290/Hempstead corridor

AUSTIN - Today, the Texas Transportation Commission authorized the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to advance two high-profile projects in the Houston area. The SH 288 project, from US 59 to the Harris/Brazoria county line, and the US 290/Hempstead corridor, from I-610 to SH 99 (Grand Parkway), will move forward through a partnership between TxDOT and Harris County.

"Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and County Commissioners Lee, Radack, Cagle and Morman should be commended for their tireless efforts championing these projects and working to bring relief to Houston-area motorists," said Ned Holmes, Texas Transportation Commissioner. "Improvements to these roadways are critical to the region's continued mobility and economic vitality."

The SH 288 corridor in the southern portion of Harris County is a highly congested corridor in the region, carrying over 180,000 vehicles per day. In an effort to address transportation needs, TxDOT has been authorized to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking firms interested in a comprehensive development agreement for the SH 288 project.

The US 290/Hempstead corridor in the northwest portion of Harris County is one of the most mobility-constrained corridors in the region and includes multiple segments on the state's 100 most congested roadway segments. Proposed improvements include using a phased approach to reconstruct US 290, including building managed lanes operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority.

"Regional partnerships are enabling innovative delivery options to advance these critically needed projects," Holmes said. "Improving mobility in the SH 288 and US 290 corridors will relieve congestion, reduce travel time and improve air quality, as well as provide social and economic benefits for our region, our state and the nation."

Please note that this thread is for discussing the 288/South Freeway project. There's a different thread to talk about the 290/Northwest Freeway/Hempstead Tollway project.

[ig2ba]

Well, let's get it started. I just hope they have a good plan of what to do with northbound traffic when it reaches downtown.

That interchange is already inadequate and you can encounter bumper to bumper traffic trying to exit to I-45 northbound any Saturday or Sunday afternoon in the year. There are already 11 NB lanes entering the interchange (4 from 288, 3 from 59, 4 from 45) and only 7 NB leaving the interchange.

With this construction project, they need to add at least as many northbound lanes to the interchange as they add to the 288 express lanes. Dumping all of the 288 express lanes onto Chenevert is not going to cut it.

[IHB2]

Well, let's get it started. I just hope they have a good plan of what to do with northbound traffic when it reaches downtown.

That interchange is already inadequate and you can encounter bumper to bumper traffic trying to exit to I-45 northbound any Saturday or Sunday afternoon in the year. There are already 11 NB lanes entering the interchange (4 from 288, 3 from 59, 4 from 45) and only 7 NB leaving the interchange.

With this construction project, they need to add at least as many northbound lanes to the interchange as they add to the 288 express lanes. Dumping all of the 288 express lanes onto Chenevert is not going to cut it.

TxDOT admits there are just too many freeways intersecting there and says there is no fix. The only hope for the interchange is to delete something - my vote would be all on/off ramps for the Pierce Elevated, including fom surface streets, to eliminate the worst of the merging backups. Vehicles already on 45 could stay on it either way through town but have to use 610 or another route to access 59 and 288, and vehicles on 59, 288 would have to use 610 or some other route to access 45 n or s.

[Pleak]

Well, everybody wants to just eliminate the Pierce Elevated entirely on the other thread - so that would take care of one source of merging backup when everybody coming from 45S is trying to merge into the flow coming up 288.