Major weekend roadway closures for 610 Loop, South Freeway
HOUSTON (FOX 26) - For three of the next four weekends, there will be six major road closures including both directions of State Highway 288 (South Freeway) and two 610 Loop ramps. All will be shut down for construction. It's all part of a larger project to add two lanes in each direction from U.S. Highway 59 near downtown Houston all the way to Brazoria County.
"The closures this weekend include 610 eastbound to westbound from Almeda to Scott Street, 288 northbound and southbound from Holly Hall to Holmes Road, then we have the two connectors," said Raynese Edwards, public information officer with the Blueridge Transportation Group, the developers of the project.
Earlier this week, new and higher ramps from the 610 Loop eastbound to TX-288 northbound, and the 610 Loop westbound to TX-288 southbound, opened for drivers, meaning the old, lower ramps will need to be demolished.
"The lower ramps, which are the older ones, have to be demolished," added Edwards. "Unfortunately they sit over the roadway and the only way we can do that so that it's safe for both the traveling public and for our workers, is to close the roadway down so we can finish the demolition."
Developers of the construction project said working through the weekend hours are meant to lessen the inconvenience for commuters during the work week. But some drivers said that it's still frustrating.
"There's always traffic in Houston because everything is getting worked on," said Ronnie Rodriguez. Even I-45 has construction still. They're never going to finish in time. My daughter will probably have a grandchild by the time they finish all the construction."
"In the long run, I think it's going to be good," said Mike Nolan. "But right now we just have to endure it."
"I mean it's annoying, but what can you do about it?," asked Megan Butler.
Closures begin at 9 p.m. Friday and last until Saturday at noon. Roadways will reopen Saturday to make way for the Texans preseason game traffic against the San Francisco 49ers at NRG Stadium.
The roadways will shut down again at midnight on Sunday until 5 a.m. Monday. The closures will continue over the next four weekends, except Labor Day weekend.
CLOSURE #1:
All lanes of SH 288 Northbound and Southbound will be closed from Holly Hall St
to IH 610. The mainlanes will be continuously closed on the following dates:
• From Fri, 8/17/18 at 9pm – Sat, 8/18/18 at 12pm, Sun morning, 8/19/18 at
12am – Mon morning, 8/20/18 at 5am
• From Fri, 8/24/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 8/27/18 at 5am
• From Fri, 9/7/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 9/10/18 at 5am
CLOSURE #1 Detours:
Northbound Traffic: Take SH 288 Northbound to IH 610 Eastbound. Exit Scott St
and U-Turn to the IH 610 Westbound ramp. Take IH 610 Westbound to SH 288
Northbound.
Southbound Traffic: Take SH 288 Southbound to IH 610 Westbound. Exit Fannin St
and U-Turn to the IH 610 Eastbound ramp. Take IH 610 Eastbound to SH 288
Southbound.
CLOSURE #2
All lanes of IH 610 Eastbound and Westbound will be closed from Scott St to Almeda Rd. The mainlanes will be continuously closed on the following dates:
• From Fri, 8/17/18 at 9pm – Sat, 8/18/18 at 12pm, Sun morning, 8/19/18 at 12am – Mon morning, 8/20/18 at 5am
• From Fri, 8/24/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 8/27/18 at 5am"
• From Fri, 9/7/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 9/10/18 at 5am
CLOSURE #2 Detours:
Eastbound Traffic: Take IH 610 Eastbound to SH 288 Southbound. Exit Bellfort Ave and U-Turn to the SH 288 Northbound ramp. Take SH 288 Northbound to IH 610 Eastbound.
Westbound Traffic: Take IH 610 Westbound to SH 288 Northbound. Exit Yellowstone and U-Turn to the SH 288 Southbound ramp. Take SH 288 Southbound to IH 610 Westbound.
CLOSURE #3
The SH 288 Northbound direct connector to IH 610 Westbound will be closed.
The mainlanes will be continuously closed on the following dates:
• From Fri, 8/17/18 at 9pm – Sat, 8/18/18 at 12pm, Sun morning, 8/19/18 at 12am – Mon morning, 8/20/18 at 5am
• From Fri, 8/24/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 8/27/18 at 5am
• From Fri, 9/7/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 9/10/18 at 5am
CLOSURE #3 Detour:
Take SH 288 Northbound to IH 610 Eastbound. Exit Scott St and U-Turn to the IH 610 Westbound ramp.
CLOSURE #4
The SH 288 Southbound direct connector to IH 610 Eastbound will be closed. The mainlanes will be continuously closed on the following dates:
• From Fri, 8/17/18 at 9pm – Sat, 8/18/18 at 12pm, Sun morning, 8/19/18 at 12am – Mon morning, 8/20/18 at 5am
• From Fri, 8/24/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 8/27/18 at 5am
• From Fri, 9/7/18 at 9pm – Mon morning, 9/10/18 at 5am
CLOSURE #4 Detour:
Take SH 288 Southbound to IH 610 Westbound. Exit Fannin St and U-Turn to the IH 610 Eastbound ramp.