General Houston-area projects thread

[CoreySamson]

IIRC they had to rebuild the main towers of the bridge from scratch, which is why the delay has been so long. Based on when I went over the old bridge there in August, the approaches are basically done (there are even BGSs up on the new approaches!). It also looks like the towers have risen up to the height of the old bridge.

[TheBox]

Horrible picture, but here's current progress on the SH 35 freeway @ Wheeler Avenue:



Image was taken right about here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VVSnv35NhtwhDaMp7

So is SH35 moving further west and taking over the route the is currently Spur 5?

Whenever the new freeway reaches all the way to Alvin, then yes

Hence the name, Alvin Freeway

[ski-man]

Horrible picture, but here's current progress on the SH 35 freeway @ Wheeler Avenue:



Image was taken right about here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VVSnv35NhtwhDaMp7

So is SH35 moving further west and taking over the route the is currently Spur 5?

Whenever the new freeway reaches all the way to Alvin, then yes

Hence the name, Alvin Freeway

Spur 5 is up by UH, and just have not read anything on a new proposed route through South Houston to reconnect with the current SH35 that is called the Alvin freeway and goes to Alvin.

[MaxConcrete]

Spur 5 is up by UH, and just have not read anything on a new proposed route through South Houston to reconnect with the current SH35 that is called the Alvin freeway and goes to Alvin.

The last I heard about the possible extension of the currently planned freeway (extending just south of Loop 610), Pearland was against the freeway, which would block the completion of a freeway all the way to Alvin.

I'm not aware of any planning in progress for an extension south of the currently planned terminus just south of Loop 610. I would like to see it extend to Beltway 8, which would terminate the freeway just north of Pearland. But if that happens it will be in the distant future, after 2050.

There's still plenty of work to be done on the planned freeway and $358 million direct connectors at Loop 610. Unfortunately that project has been delayed and is now listed for May 2027 bidding.

After that project at Loop 610, I'm expecting a long hiatus before anything else proceeds.

[Bobby5280]

If the Grand Parkway can ever get completed that would be one way to attach that freeway in Alvin to the rest of Houston's super highway network.

[TXtoNJ]

Horrible picture, but here's current progress on the SH 35 freeway @ Wheeler Avenue:



Image was taken right about here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VVSnv35NhtwhDaMp7

So is SH35 moving further west and taking over the route the is currently Spur 4?

Correct, this is part of the long-planned (for more than 70 years now) Alvin Freeway.

[TheBox]

Some interesting screenshots of the Alvin Freeway video posted on a different forum site called Houstonarchitecture.com

[CoreySamson]

Update on the 288 freeway construction between Croix Road and CR 60:

The main lanes of 288 are now open over the new overpass over CR 48 (Iowa Colony Boulevard) here. This is extremely quick progress on this project, especially considering that two years ago, work on the overpass had hardly started yet. GSV satellite imagery is also updated throughout the bounds of the project.

[CoreySamson]

This may not be new news, but here is some interesting information regarding the HGAC 2045 Regional Transportation Plan update that I figured should be here for reference:

Here is the overall list of projects, and here is a nicely organized version of that list sorted by region with maps.

One of the most interesting things that I noticed is the future construction of a new 4-lane state highway on a new alignment running from TX 36 in the vicinity of Orchard to somewhere near Hempstead, numbered TX 36A. I'm guessing that it is either a temporary number or as an alternate to normal TX 36.

[thisdj78]

This may not be new news, but here is some interesting information regarding the HGAC 2045 Regional Transportation Plan update that I figured should be here for reference:

Here is the overall list of projects, and here is a nicely organized version of that list sorted by region with maps.

One of the most interesting things that I noticed is the future construction of a new 4-lane state highway on a new alignment running from TX 36 in the vicinity of Orchard to somewhere near Hempstead, numbered TX 36A. I'm guessing that it is either a temporary number or as an alternate to normal TX 36.

Sounds like the Prairie Parkway Project:

http://stateofwilderness.com/2014/02/09/prairie-parkway/

[The Ghostbuster]

Are there any plans to build the mainline freeway lanes on the US 90 Crosby Freeway inside the Sam Houston Tollway?

[MaxConcrete]

Are there any plans to build the mainline freeway lanes on the US 90 Crosby Freeway inside the Sam Houston Tollway?

I'm virtually certain the missing sections of main lanes inside Beltway 8 are being built. The contract received bids around a year ago. But no work in progress is shown on Google satellite view. Maybe someone in the area can confirm that construction is in progress.

[CoreySamson]

I think I remembered seeing some construction signs somewhere in the area when I drove the Crosby Freeway in January, but I don't think there was any work happening yet. GSV seems to support this too.

[cenlaroads]

I think I remembered seeing some construction signs somewhere in the area when I drove the Crosby Freeway in January, but I don't think there was any work happening yet. GSV seems to support this too.

I drove the concurrency with FM 526 on Saturday and saw construction in progress.  They were building an overpass if I remember correctly.

[MaxConcrete]

The new SH 288 bridge at CR 60 in Brazoria County is open (link has video view)

https://x.com/TxDOTHouston/status/1908315142271402413

[CoreySamson]

The new SH 288 bridge at CR 60 in Brazoria County is open (link has video view)

https://x.com/TxDOTHouston/status/1908315142271402413

This is also the future interchange with the Grand Parkway. Great to see TxDOT planning these things out.

[CoreySamson]

The new overpass for SH 288 over Rodeo Palms Pkwy/Del Bello Lakes Blvd (just north of the existing TX 6 interchange in Manvel) opened earlier this week. Further south closer to the CR 60 interchange mentioned above, there are some new partial gantry exit signs.

[TheBox]

From the TxDOT 2026 UTP

I've seen the following listed expansions for:
- SH 249 (between Beltway 8 and I-45)
- FM 529 / Freeman Rd (between Grand Parkway and FM 362)
- FM 2920 (between Tomball and Waller)
- FM 518 / Broadway St (between SH 288 and SH 35)
- FM 521 / Almeda Rd (between SH 6 and CR 56)
- SH 36 (between I-69 and FM 2218)
- I-10 (between Brookshire and Katy)

[thisdj78]

Should've been built as a 3x3 from the beginning:

SH 99 to be expanded from Katy to Cypress

https://coveringkaty.com/news/katy/sh-99-to-be-expanded-from-katy-to-cypress/

[thisdj78]

Katy, Fulshear prioritize road projects as congestion worsens

https://communityimpact.com/houston/katy-fulshear/transportation/2025/09/16/katy-fulshear-prioritize-road-projects-as-congestion-worsens/

[The Ghostbuster]

Would it be necessary to widen all of Interstate 10 between San Antoino and Houston to a minimum of three lanes in each direction?

[Bobby5280]

Would it be necessary to widen all of Interstate 10 between San Antonio and Houston to a minimum of three lanes in each direction?

That would be an emphatic YES.

I think evidence is clearly visible in Google Earth imagery. Traffic between the two cities is pretty heavy. They're getting close to having I-10 widened to at least 3x3 lanes from the Western outskirts of Houston to the TX-71 split at Columbus. I-10 drops to 2x2 lanes West of that point. Going East of the I-410 loop in San Antonio over to Seguin there are a couple areas of construction to widen I-10 to 3x3 lanes.

In some zones I don't think 3x3 lanes is enough. I think I-10 West of Houston should be at 4x4 lanes to the US-90 split. Currently the 4x4 setup drops to 3x3 just past Katy Mills.

[thisdj78]

Would it be necessary to widen all of Interstate 10 between San Antoino and Houston to a minimum of three lanes in each direction?

I believe that is the plan. They are starting at both ends and working toward each other. Between definitely between SA and Toll 130 and Sealy to SH71 are the most critical.

[thisdj78]

In some zones I don't think 3x3 lanes is enough. I think I-10 West of Houston should be at 4x4 lanes to the US-90 split. Currently the 4x4 setup drops to 3x3 just past Katy Mills.

In the article I linked above, they mention plans for expansion of Katy Freeway west of Katy Mills.

[Bobby5280]

The proposed expansion of I-10 from 3x3 lanes to 5x5 would have its Western end at the Cane Island Parkway exit (in front of Buc-ee's). They ought to widen I-10 from 3x3 to 4x4 at that point out to the US-90/I-10 split or even extend a 4x4 lanes arrangement as far West as Sealy. If certain highway expansions go thru for the Western Houston exhurbs, such as extending the Westpark Tollway out to TX-36 in/near Wallis, it could put more pressure on I-10, forcing a 4x4 configuration of I-10 farther West of Sealy.