Regional Navigation

U.S. Highway 59 South - Houston


U.S. 59 south
Interstate 10 departs here. US 59 climbs above the IH 10 interchange in the background of this picture. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The right two lanes exit to Jackson Street and Downtown. Use Jackson Street to reach the George Brown Convention Center. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Traffic from IH 10 joins a C/D ramp, with a separate exit to Hamilton Street and Downtown. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Jackson Street departs here. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The C/D ramp splits, with the left two lanes joining US 59 south, and the right lane exiting to Hamilton Street. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for IH 45. In the background, the George Brown Convention Center can be seen. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The right lane becomes an exit only lane to IH 45. The George Brown Convention Center backs up to the freeway, as shown on the right side of this photo. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
IH 45 departs here. The next exit serves McGowen Ave and Tuam Ave. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
US 59 descends from the elevated freeway around downtown to below grade through the IH 45/US 59 interchange. The ramp to IH 45 splits ahead, as shown in the background of this picture. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Now below grade, the streets of downtown cross US 59. St. Joseph Parkway passes above US 59 on this bridge. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for McGowen Ave and Tuam Ave. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
McGowen Avenue and Tuam Avenue depart here, under the ramps to IH 45. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for SH 288. US 59 is in the outer lanes at this point, with the ramps from IH 45 in the inner lanes. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The inner lanes become SH 288, as shown by this rare “Begin SH 288” sign assembly. US 59 runs outside of SH 288 in a dual freeway setup. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The ramp from US 59 to SH 288 exits here. This ramp crosses over US 59 and meets the inner lanes, where SH 288 branches away from US 59. The ramp from IH 45 (SH 288) to US 59 merges with US 59 just after this exit. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Alabama Street passes under the final ramp of the SH 288 interchange. This section of US 59 is a bottleneck during rush hour. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
US 59 climbs out of the below-grade trench and enters a short elevated section as it approaches Fannin Street. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The US 59 viaduct is a narrow, six lane viaduct with auxiliary lane. The auxiliary lane exits to Fannin Street. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Fannin Street exits here. Beyond this point, US 59 leaves the viaduct and passes below grade. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
US 59 drops below grade here. The bridge above US 59 south is the exit for Spur 527 north into downtown. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
After merging with Spur 527, US 59 becomes a ten lane freeway with HOV lane. This below grade section, completed in 2006, replaced an above-grade viaduct. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for Shepherd Dr and Greenbriar Drive. The next three exits for the HOV lane are listed as well. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The right lane exits to Shepherd Drive. This section of trenched freeway was widened and reconstructed in 2002. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Shepherd Drive and Greenbriar Drive exit here. Use Shepherd Drive to reach the University of St. Thomas. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Climbing out of the trench, the next exit serves Kirby Drive. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for the HOV exit at Edloe Street. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Kirby Drive exits here. The next exit is Buffalo Speedway. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The right lane exits to Buffalo Speedway. Use Buffalo Speedway to reach the Upper Kirby neighborhood. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Buffalo Speedway exits here. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
This variable message sign shows (faintly) the travel time to Beltway 8. This is a common feature of Texas freeways that have intelligent traffic systems. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for Edloe Street and Weslayan Road. US 59 is now approaching the Greenway Plaza office complex. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
US 59 is a ten lane freeway with HOV lane, at grade, through the Greenway Plaza area. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Edloe Street and Weslayan Road exit here. In the background is the HOV exit for Edloe Street. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for IH 610. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for Newcastle Drive. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Newcastle Drive exits here. The right three lanes exit to IH 610 ahead. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
This is a typical US 59 route shield. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The right three lanes depart for IH 610 here, leaving three thru lanes along US 59. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
After leaving US 59, the IH 610 ramp splits in two here. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Now west of IH 610, the next exit is Fountainview Drive. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for Westpark Drive. US 59 is twelve lanes plus HOV at this point. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Westpark Drive exits here. The next exit serves the Westpark Tollway. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The Westpark Tollway does not have any traditional tollbooths, and requires an EZ Tag. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The Westpark Tollway exits here. The next exit is Hillcroft Avenue. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Hillcroft Avenue exits here. The high overhead bridge serves the Westpark Tollway. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for Bellaire Boulevard and Fondren Road. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Use Bellaire Boulevard to reach Houston Baptist University, as well as the Sharpstown Mall. US 59 is now in the community of Sharpstown, one of the first large master-planned communities in Houston. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Bellaire Boulevard and Fondren Road exit here. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Beechnut Street and South Gessner Road exit here. US 59 is eight lanes with HOV at this point. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Advance signage for the Sam Houston Tollway. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The right two lanes exit to the Sam Houston Tollway. Before that are the Beltway 8 frontage roads, and after the Sam Houston Tollway, the next exit serves West Bellfort Ave and Wilcrest Drive. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Beltway 8 departs here. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The Sam Houston Tollway departs here. The next exit is West Bellfort Avenue and Wilcrest Drive. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
Use West Bellfort Avenue to reach FM 1092 and Murphy Road. Photo taken September 7, 2006.
The Beltway 8 ramp splits here. The Beltway 8/US 59 south stack is a modified four level stack, with ramps separated widely. Photo taken September 7, 2006.

Page Updated October 18, 2006.

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