Shortcut Non Proposal Freeway

[Dominax]

Southwest freeway to GulfCoast Freeway

From stack of SH-288 and US 59

Freeway proposal toward I-45

MAP

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/dom...SHORTCUTMAP.bmp

[kjb434]

This is quite unecessary. One already exists.

There is already a dedicated lane system in place to direct US 59 traffic and I-45 between each other. The interchange system between I-45 and US 59 and US 59 and SH 288 is one of the best design facilities in the country given it's age.

The stretch betwen SH288 and I-45 on US 59 there are actually dual freeways. The center section speeds traffic from the US-59/SH-288 intersection to I-45. The outside freeway handles US-59 traffic bypassing the I-45 interchange. Few minor geometric fixes need to added to the system, but in the end it is quite effective.

[RedScare]

Yeah, that's what we need. Let's obliterate another neighborhood just for the fun of it.

I think this how highway planners do their job. They just bust out a map and a Sharpie and draw a line across it and say, "How about that?"

[kjb434]

Actually,

Highway planners after 1975 couldn't just draw lines through anywhere especially if they want federal funds.

If you've noticed, most new expressways proposal align themselves with existing roads or rail roads. Toll roads are generally taking this approach.

Federal funding for roads puts so many restrictions that its hard to draw a line from A to B and build. You have to go through a lot of hoops to build new federal funded freeways (pretty much all freeways).

This is why you can propose a freeway expansion or a new freeway and it takes 10 years to get to the point of construction.

[WestGrayGuy]

The neighborhood you are proposing cutting through is the third ward. You would have Jesse Jackson and local activist Quannel X on this before you could put up a sign.

[RedScare]

Well, I'd be standing next to them. And I'd hope they would stand with me if they tried to put a toll road across my Heights street.

[kjb434]

Jesse Jackson and Quannel would never stand behind the heights residents if a toll road is proposed. They would probably rejoice saying the white people are getting what they deserve.

[Houston19514]

What is the source of this drawing? Just because someone has a map posted on the internet with some possible highway routes drawn on it does not mean that any "highway planners" have actually made plans for such a road.

[kjb434]

Yeah, it seems he likes to deal completely in the hypothetical and not in reality.

I like dreaming too, but usually I have some realism in my dreams.

[Subdude]

There's no harm in it. That stretch of 59 before the Pierce Elevated does stay pretty backed up.

[westender]

Maybe it's me but Dominax is starting to remind me of a poster in the old forum that was ran off. I remember that person making a supertall building in downtown and touting it as a proposal by some Arab sheik.

[YakuzaIce]

Maybe it's me but Dominax is starting to remind me of a poster in the old forum that was ran off. I remember that person making a supertall building in downtown and touting it as a proposal by some Arab sheik.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah wasn't it trillion tower, and it was just a cut and paste of a dallas building. Didn't he do some kind of hanging apartments over 59 also.

[tigereye]

A proposal that should be looked at is of SH 249 coming into Houston as I think this would relieve congestion on both I-45 and 290 by taking the Champions/Klein/Tomball area commmuters off these two already crowded freeways.

I've heard that TxDot or Harris County has looked into extending SH 249 all the way to The Loop, but how and where?

[kjb434]

SH249 would have run through Oak Forest as a toll road for HCTRA. The proposal has been removed from HCTRA's maps.

[LTAWACS]

seems like a good idea... we shall see.

[CaptAWACS]

No it is not a good idea at all, and that is not how TxDOT runs it proposals (as I used to work for them, trust me). Reliver lanes could be added, and have been looked at by TxDOT before. Improving the mass transit options is also something METRO needs to look at, as many of the "Park-and-Ride" buses are going out full from the North side.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,

Capt-AWACS, Seven Continents Down, None to Go

[westender]

seems like a good idea... we shall see.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is this guy your alter-ego.vvv

No it is not a good idea at all, and that is not how TxDOT runs it proposals (as I used to work for them, trust me). Reliver lanes could be added, and have been looked at by TxDOT before. Improving the mass transit options is also something METRO needs to look at, as many of the "Park-and-Ride" buses are going out full from the North side.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,

Capt-AWACS, Seven Continents Down, None to Go

[CaptAWACS]

No I'm the guy who was LtAWACS and has been CaptAWACS on SSP, SSC, adn the old Houston forum. This guy ganked my old handle, don't know why.

The point still stands about it being a bad idea.

Ciao, and Hook 'em Horns,

Capt-AWACS, The original

[texas911]

Maybe they can go underground with it. You know spend lots of extra dollars for nothing, like they're doing on the SW freeway.

[YakuzaIce]

Maybe they can go underground with it. You know spend lots of extra dollars for nothing, like they're doing on the SW freeway.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The SW freeway isn't underground. That type of construction would not save the neighborhood. The only reason it got sunken was because of prodding from the residents in the area.

[Casual Observer]

I've spent alot of time in the Oak Forest area in the last 2 years, and there's nowhere to put a toll/freeway through there - at least not without razing some homes.

No Bueno.

[Casual Observer]

Whatever happened to the I-45/I-10 alternate downtown bypass through First Ward? Did that finally die out?

[kjb434]

It never existed. It was just a concept thrown around on HAIF.

Oak Forest would have the toll road run along side the railroad with some homes hit.

[Perimeter285]

Why is sinking the Southwest Freeway a waste of money? I guarantee this freeway will function better than all of the over-engineered monstrosities around town. Just consider all of the existing depressed freeway sections around Houston (I-10 between Heights Blvd. and Washington Ave., the Beltway between I-10 and Deerwood, among others). I can't ever remember sitting in traffic on these roads.

Besides, moving the most cars for the least amount of money isn't the only valid consideration in road projects. Making Houston a desirable place to live and locate a business is extremely important, and sinking the Southwest Freeway is another means to that end. Aesthetics are not "fluff" in this day and age. If Houstonians continue to have that attitude, though, this city will get left in the dust.

[kjb434]

You need to remember the expense of lower a freeway versus Atlanta from which your name suggests. Houston has to use pump systems to make the road somewhat functionable durint a 25-year storm. Anything higher than that and the cost would be ridiculous. US-59 suffered a pump failure earlier this week during a rain storm and the freeway was closed during rush hour.

That's the chance we would tak with depressed freeways.

I-10 and SH 288 were designed with no pumps because the bayous nearby were much lower and still allowed drainage. Recently TxDOT was looking into adding pumps to the I-10 section from Shepherd to Washington because the flooding is more frequent.

Don't get me wrong, I love depressed freeways, but the cost can be exhorbitant. TxDOT had to spend over $30 million extra to extend the depressed section.

There were plans to attempt to lower the Katy freeway from I-610 to just past the beltway. The costs and complications of the job would have brought on too much opposition.