Galleria Area Road Work Might Test Holiday Spirit

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http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/m...politan/2929550

Dec. 3, 2004, 12:12AM

Galleria-area road work might test holiday spirit

TxDOT will close northbound lanes of the West Loop starting at 9 tonight

By ROBERT CROWE and DAVID KAPLAN

Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

If you are wishing for more time on the road this holiday season, the Texas Department of Transportation has you on its list.

Just in time for the annual Christmas shopping rush, TxDOT will close access to one of Houston's busiest malls to rebuild the West Loop.

The highway agency says it simply wants to stay on schedule with its construction plan. But Galleria-area retailers say the timing will do little for their Christmas cheer.

Starting at 9 tonight, the northbound lanes of the West Loop, between the Southwest Freeway and Woodway, will be closed for construction until 8 p.m. Sunday.

Ramps from the Southwest Freeway to the West Loop also will be closed.

Southbound lanes of the West Loop will remain open. Motorists also will have free access to the inbound Westpark Tollway, between the Southwest Freeway and Post Oak, as well as a new exit to Westheimer.

West Loop closing

TxDOT spokesman Norm Wigington said the construction must go on, despite an expected onslaught of traffic on a busy shopping weekend.

"These construction projects are incentive-based," he explained. "The sooner we get it done, the sooner we'll be out of there."

Some merchants weren't too pleased at the thought of customers trying to negotiate roadwork on one of the busiest weekends before Christmas.

"It's been such an ongoing situation, with different segments of the freeway being closed," said Jerry Lasco, owner of the Tasting Room, a wine shop in Uptown Park.

The three-year, $80 million project to repair the West Loop is slated for completion in early 2006.

"To meet the 2006 deadline, we have got to meet our deadlines in December of '04," Wigington said.

John Breeding, president of the Uptown Houston District, said access to the Galleria area this weekend should be about as easy as any other day.

He said access to the Galleria from the Katy Freeway and the southbound West Loop will be the same. People driving on the Southwest Freeway from downtown can take the Newcastle exit.

Those heading in from Sugar Land along the Southwest Freeway can take the Westpark Tollway.

The Uptown District will pick up the tab for the 25-cent toll, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Travelers going northbound on the West Loop from Bellaire can take the new Westheimer "hot link" exit, just before the Southwest Freeway interchange, Breeding noted.

"They might not like the trip, but they'll get here," said Paul Johnson, owner of Paul Carter Jewels, an upscale jewelry store in Uptown Park.

david.kaplan@chron.com

robert.crowe@chron.com