A groundbreaking ceremony was held today to start reconstruction on the I-610 / I-69 interchange (the southwestern one). It's a $ 259 million project.
https://www.click2houston.com/news/officials-to-break-ground-on-259-million-i-610-us-59-interchange-project
The proposed project would:
* Expand one-lane connectors to two-lane connectors
* Upgrade to current design standards
* Add shoulders on I-610 mainlane bridge
* Increase vertical clearances
* Increase sight distances
* Add detention ponds
Schematics can be found here: http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/get-involved/about/hearings-meetings/houston/030316.html
screenshot:
(https://i.imgur.com/UgsKKRP.jpg)
I guess the ramps over I-610 will be built first then they can close those present ramps. Interesting how I-610 NB bridge is built just to right of the right away, I guess its the only way engineers could fit the expansion in without disrupting traffic.
The most interesting feature is the new ramp from southbound IH 610 to northbound IH 69, which goes over the top of the existing interchange and will be a long, high-flying ramp.
More photos here
http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/11/20/251866/houston-to-redesign-congested-interchange/ (http://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/11/20/251866/houston-to-redesign-congested-interchange/)
How many times has this interchange been rebuilt in the last 20 years? I can think of 2 right off the bat.
Quote from: rte66man on November 21, 2017, 10:23:05 PM
How many times has this interchange been rebuilt in the last 20 years? I can think of 2 right off the bat.
The interchange has not been fully rebuilt. In the early 2000s numerous enhancements were added. The Loop 610 frontage roads where brought through the interchange and the eastbound Westpark Toll road connected through the interchange. Four connection ramps were partially rebuilt at that time. Also, the two high-level entrance/exit ramps alongside Loop 610 (one on each side) were added, along with some modification to the 610 SB to 69 SB ramp.
When the Southwest Freeway was expanded in the early 1990s (work completed in 1992), the Southwest Freeway main lanes were rebuilt and the HOV structure was added.
Most of the interchange is still original from 1962. I'm amazed that the Loop 610 pavement on its bridge structure is just as good as the day it opened. Pavement on some of the connection ramps has needed repair.
Where do the 4 overhead lanes bypassing 610 between I-10 and 59 fit into all of this? Is this project still a go?
Nexus 5X
Quote from: nolia_boi504 on November 22, 2017, 10:06:57 AM
Where do the 4 overhead lanes bypassing 610 between I-10 and 59 fit into all of this? Is this project still a go?
Nexus 5X
Separate project. It's one of the three projects for the West Loop (the others being the I-610/I-69 interchange, bus lanes to South Post Oak).
Quote from: nolia_boi504 on November 22, 2017, 10:06:57 AM
Where do the 4 overhead lanes bypassing 610 between I-10 and 59 fit into all of this? Is this project still a go?
According to a high-level TxDOT person I spoke to recently, the West Loop express lanes project is on hold for now since HGAC had some concerns about it. It is expected to move forward eventually, but not within the next 2-3 years.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20190922-69-610-0015-1600.jpg&hash=f31990b7a231caba8d158a7f646dd7ce8244a3e4)
Photo taken 9/22/2019 looking east at Sage/Rice Avenue, showing the ramps on the northwest side of the interchange connecting to southbound I-69. Since the photo, the crossbeams have been placed on all these piers.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20191019_69-610-0005-1600.jpg&hash=ae428a91f19736bc4306f6e8b79a03be39aaa758)
Photo taken 10/19/2019, showing piers for the SB-NB ramp. This ramp will be the highest in the new design, going over the top of the existing ramps.
Photos taken January 5, 2020, driving northbound on IH69, showing piers for the 610SB to 69NB ramp.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20200105_006_1600.jpg&hash=56ee1509a8135c5f4fddab53416253fc0bdf3557)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20200105_007_1600.jpg&hash=1de1a1b01af76bf24a3bdcf2c7844f2e871a0c41)
Loop 610 was closed the last two weekends for placement of beams. Photos taken Feb. 2 and 8
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20200202_004-1800.jpg&hash=4c4eb655e42714ddff030a639360ad84045b5a6c)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20200208-610.jpg&hash=4e6f1d061857513af6055a793f4427ca7cde6ca8)
Key ramp to Loop 610 opens, offering some relief at the biggest bottleneck in Texas
69N to 610S is open
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/transportation/article/Key-ramp-to-Loop-610-opens-offering-some-relief-15213306.php?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=socialflow
Pixel 4
Photos taken today.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20200502_001-1600.jpg&hash=e00e666aadf3045224d5c344b175d8c352211087)
Piers for the new 610 SB to 69 NB ramp
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20200502_011-1600.jpg&hash=67ef89c4b8e4b8d489adb7ed6611944d7e04fa7f)
Piers for the new 610 SB to 69 NB ramp
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20200502_019-1600.jpg&hash=d91c76236bee5a4a8f982aecefea8547d80c5d8e)
Driving on the recently opened 69 NB to 610 SB ramp, showing work in progress on the 610 NB to 69 SB ramp
The 610 SB to 69 NB ramp opened Sunday evening. This is the tallest ramp in the interchange, and probably the longest. (610 NB to 69 SB is also long).
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EndkkgeXMAo-u3a?format=jpg)
Twitter
https://twitter.com/HOU610at69/status/1330642804079550465
Looks like more ramps opened today, and demo will start immediately on the shutdown ramps to make way for upcoming phases..
"Houston traffic: Southwest Freeway shut down this weekend to tear down old Galleria-area ramp | abc13.com" https://abc13.com/amp/houston-traffic-galleria-us-59-southwest-freeway/10387924/
Pixel 4
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20210306_041-1600.jpg&hash=3828d27dc23ed29516ddae5aa528bfe35b230d09)
Driving on the newly opened 610NB-69SB ramp
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallasfreeways.com%2Fdfwfreeways%2FAARoads%2F20210306_011-1800.jpg&hash=059b663b4340861f36175dc5288f7826eda5b9f2)
This view shows the two ramps being demolished this weekend. The old 610NB-69SB ramp is in the foreground, and in the background the old 610SB-69NB ramp is visible.
The long 610 south to 69 North ramp has a wide support spanning the temporary 610 southbound lanes. This bridge will be demolished and the new built to the right. Was this support temporary and a single beam will replace it or will TxDot just leave it spanning nothing per the schematics.
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7310443,-95.4601667,3a,52.6y,190.94h,92.61t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sBf7jKVy4SGiKI-aOfB0P3A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DBf7jKVy4SGiKI-aOfB0P3A%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D19.336908%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7303311,-95.4602593,3a,54.6y,19.46h,86.51t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxbqwmAT58IBjjZ4KzngD6Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7307402,-95.4600699,98m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu
https://www.txdot.gov/hou610at69/project-overview/gallery.html
TxDot in the past have built temporary permanent bridges for construction projects such as the the HOV lanes for the 290/610 interchange reconstruction.
Quote from: longhorn on August 17, 2023, 10:31:05 PM
The long 610 south to 69 North ramp has a wide support spanning the temporary 610 southbound lanes. This bridge will be demolished and the new built to the right. Was this support temporary and a single beam will replace it or will TxDot just leave it spanning nothing per the schematics.
TxDOT has proposed 2x2 express lanes on an elevated structure in the middle of the freeway, and the connection would be in the location under the wide span.
However, the express lanes are not moving forward anytime soon, probably the 2030s at the earliest. So the empty space will be there a while, perhaps indefinitely.
Quote from: MaxConcrete on August 17, 2023, 11:45:02 PM
Quote from: longhorn on August 17, 2023, 10:31:05 PM
The long 610 south to 69 North ramp has a wide support spanning the temporary 610 southbound lanes. This bridge will be demolished and the new built to the right. Was this support temporary and a single beam will replace it or will TxDot just leave it spanning nothing per the schematics.
TxDOT has proposed 2x2 express lanes on an elevated structure in the middle of the freeway, and the connection would be in the location under the wide span.
However, the express lanes are not moving forward anytime soon, probably the 2030s at the earliest. So the empty space will be there a while, perhaps indefinitely.
Thank you for the reply, that makes sense...........Scary, that actually shows some forethought on TxDOT's part.