General Houston-area projects thread

[CoreySamson]

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.

The new I-10 Colorado River bridge near Columbus is being built out as a 4x4 if I remember correctly.

[The Ghostbuster]

The closest parallel roadway to Interstate 10 west of Houston is the Westpark Tollway. Would it be possible to eventually extend it further west (which it is planned to do), and possibly have it terminate at Interstate 10 like the Dallas North Tollway will eventually terminate at US 75 (so the WPT could be utilized as an Interstate 10 relief route)?

[thisdj78]

The closest parallel roadway to Interstate 10 west of Houston is the Westpark Tollway. Would it be possible to eventually extend it further west (which it is planned to do), and possibly have it terminate at Interstate 10 like the Dallas North Tollway will eventually terminate at US 75 (so the WPT could be utilized as an Interstate 10 relief route)?

When Westpark Tollway was first being built, I imagined it as a road that could eventually connect to I-10 at Sealy.

[MaxConcrete]

The closest parallel roadway to Interstate 10 west of Houston is the Westpark Tollway. Would it be possible to eventually extend it further west (which it is planned to do), and possibly have it terminate at Interstate 10 like the Dallas North Tollway will eventually terminate at US 75 (so the WPT could be utilized as an Interstate 10 relief route)?

When Westpark Tollway was first being built, I imagined it as a road that could eventually connect to I-10 at Sealy.

A long time ago (maybe 20 years ago) I seem to remember FBCTRA considered continuing the Westpark Tollway along FM 359 to connect it to I-10 at Brookshire. That concept was discarded.

The current plan is to extend it west along FM 1093 to Simonton.

It is possible it will be extended further west, and a connection to I-10 is also possible. However, I think a connection to I-10 is very unlikely if the 36A South project proceeds, since 36A will provide a north-south freeway/tollway between the Westpark Tollway and I-10.

[Chris]

At what point would extensions of the Westpark Tollway become problematic on its existing route?

According to the TxDOT map the AADT west of Beltway 8 is already over 80,000 per day, while the Westpark Tollway only has 4 lanes and no frontage roads.

It's a narrow road, in particular by Houston standards. No frontage roads, no right of way for an expansion, no median to pave over or fill in.

https://www.dot.state.tx.us/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html

[Bobby5280]

It's a narrow road, in particular by Houston standards. No frontage roads, no right of way for an expansion, no median to pave over or fill in.

Are you not looking at the Western end of the Westpark Tollway? West of Beltway 8 it runs in the median of FM-1093. Going West of Spring Green Blvd FM-1093 is arranged like frontage roads with a wide median. That configuration extends to the Main Street intersection in Fulshear.

Between Fulshear and Simonton the ROW for a future extension of the toll road looks like it is still mostly intact, FM-1093 is running along the South side of the ROW. It looks like a canal is running next to FM-1093 most of the way between Simonton and Wallis. If the Westpark Tollway was extended to the TX-36 corridor the last few miles might have to be built on a new terrain path.

[MaxConcrete]

At what point would extensions of the Westpark Tollway become problematic on its existing route?

According to the TxDOT map the AADT west of Beltway 8 is already over 80,000 per day, while the Westpark Tollway only has 4 lanes and no frontage roads.

It's a narrow road, in particular by Houston standards. No frontage roads, no right of way for an expansion, no median to pave over or fill in.

https://www.dot.state.tx.us/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html

The Harris County section of the Westpark Tollway is already problematic, mainly due to its small size.

This problem is especially troublesome for Fort Bend County, since everyone coming from Fort Bend County uses the Harris County section.

Fort Bend County is the main driver of the Westpark Tollway Mobility Study.

However, Harris County has blocked or delayed all proposed HCTRA system improvements since Democrats took control of Harris County Commissioners Court in 2019. So I had low expectations for this study.

The good news arriving earlier this week is that the progressive, anti-HCTRA county judge Lina Hidalgo announced she will not seek reelection next year. So there will be a new county judge in 2027, and the new judge could be pro-HCTRA system expansion.

I think the most realistic option for the Westpark Tollway is to make it 3-1(reversible HOV)-3, since that configuration will mostly fit in the available right-of-way. But there will be difficult sections for any expansion.