Feds halt I-45 plans

[oldag]

Except Houston doesn't want or need this project.

What they are trying to do is force a huge amount of construction to remove the current elevated 45 through down town, then route it all through the existing 59 corridor, and add extra lanes underground. It would completely screw traffic through Houston (far more than it already is, which is saying something) for a decade, and the end result will be that all north-south traffic goes through a single bottleneck that will be incredibly flood-prone. You think we had issues with freeways flooding during emergencies and disasters before?

If that is the plan, best it got killed.

 

[oldag]

Since we have never seen Hwy 45 NOT under construction folks around here refer to it as the Highway 401k.
In 1968 National Geographic featured the construction on their cover. The stpry was about how great it was going to be, because it had TV cameras the size of a porta-potty on its overpasses. A brave new world? Maybe its time to stop.

I remember when it was built. And it has been under construction ever since somewhere along the way.

 

[mroper]

45 does need to be expanded but the solution they are proposing does not seem to be the Answer . Maybe a double decker with
an express for through traffic and the other for the connector to 59/288

 

[cygunner]

Cutting through minority 'hoods. That is racist.

Yes, definitely un-woke.

 

[cygunner]

If that is the plan, best it got killed.

Underground lanes = death trap in Houston.

 

[Gilbertc13]

They need to change something for sure. My work day is spent in the car 8 hours a day all throughout Harris county and that one section of 45S/59S @ the pierce elevated platform is trash. Also 59N at spur 527 is always a mess. Don’t get me started on the 59/610 ramp closure either. What people are concerned about from what it seems is the homeless and low income individuals that stay under the freeway at San Jacinto & Pierce, Fannin & Pierce, Main & Pierce and Travis & Pierce. There’s more tent cities as you go towards Hamilton & Pierce too. This will also likely effect the area on Sampson road, which isn’t the nicest area to begin with. The fed pay out for those properties can change those peoples lives, but if it’s a property that’s been in the family long enough then those folks will not even consider selling


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[benenglish]

Except Houston doesn't want or need this project.

I'm sure the people who live on the north side of the building at 2016 Main would love to see the Pierce elevated removed. Their property values would jump way up if that source of constant, droning noise were to go away. Finding other folks who really want the project is much more difficult.

What they are trying to do is force a huge amount of construction to remove the current elevated 45 through down town, then route it all through the existing 59 corridor, ... the end result will be that all north-south traffic goes through a single bottleneck ...

Just in case anyone is curious, here's a cross-section of what that proposed bottleneck would look like. At least, this is one part of it and the picture is a year old so maybe things have changed. Nevertheless, I count it at 34 lanes wide. Can you imagine navigating this thing if you're just driving through Houston and unfamiliar with the area?

 

[benenglish]

Underground lanes = death trap in Houston.

I'm not sure any of the proposed project is actually underground. Some is at ground level and surrounded by rising hardscape (see the pic above) so it might be the functional equivalent of underground (wrt flooding issues) but I'm no civil engineer so my eyeballing it is worthless.

ETA: It looks like the I-10W lanes are built up to act as a levee to prevent flooding from White Oak Bayou from reaching I-45N, I-45S, and I-10E. However, if that ersatz levee is overtopped, we'd lose all those freeways at once. Like I say, I'm not a civil engineer so maybe this whole layout is the best thing since sliced bread.

I just know I really wouldn't want to have to commute across the middle of Houston after this project is done. Thank God for retirement.

 

[Brains]

Can you imagine navigating this thing if you're just driving through Houston and unfamiliar with the area?

The locals aren't any better :P

Merge? What's that?
My exit is coming up? I'll just wait, and swing over from lane 2 right at the barrier. EXCEPT WHEN ...
Oh here's a merging entrance ramp that turns into an exit a mile up? I MUST COME OVER RIGHT NOW !!!
.. and, similarly, entrance ramps from the feeders can only be accessed from the far right lane.

etc. etc. etc.

I think we're a great melting pot .... of the nations worst drivers

 

[jordanmills]

I'm not sure any of the proposed project is actually underground. Some is at ground level and surrounded by rising hardscape (see the pic above) so it might be the functional equivalent of underground (wrt flooding issues) but I'm no civil engineer so my eyeballing it is worthless.

ETA: It looks like the I-10W lanes are built up to act as a levee to prevent flooding from White Oak Bayou from reaching I-45N, I-45S, and I-10E. However, if that ersatz levee is overtopped, we'd lose all those freeways at once. Like I say, I'm not a civil engineer so maybe this whole layout is the best thing since sliced bread.

I just know I really wouldn't want to have to commute across the middle of Houston after this project is done. Thank God for retirement.

I don't know if the most recent plan included the underground lanes, or if common sense finally got to whoever allowed someone to hook their construction buddy up, but it was part of the plan at one time.

The 5 Wackiest Images from TxDOT’s Plans To Reroute I-45 and Abandon the Pierce Elevated | Swamplot

There’s so much to talk about and gawk at in the latest “proposed recommended alternatives” for reshaping I-45 now being shopped around by TxDOT and a host of freeway-happy consultants — enough for a fourth round of public meeting

swamplot.com

Plan to put Houston freeways underground raises flooding concern for drivers

TxDOT plans to make some big changes to I-45/North Freeway, which includes putting portions of the freeway underground.

abc13.com

Farther north, on I-45, a portion of the freeway will get pushed below grade, from just south of North Main to Cottage Street.
[...]
With private funding, the same kind of public park concept could be developed here.

But the big question for many Houstonians is, what happens to an underground freeway during inevitable Houston flooding?

 

[benenglish]

I don't know if the most recent plan included the underground lanes, or if common sense finally got to whoever allowed someone to hook their construction buddy up, but it was part of the plan at one time.

Yep. I see what you're talking about. I imagine the entire project has been revised a few thousand times so I'm not surprised that parts were underground at one time and may still be.

If I weren't so lazy, I'd look it up again.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

There are underwater tunnels everywhere....

 

[Jotec]

Crazy! Hadnt heard this until now.

 

[cygunner]

The locals aren't any better :P

Merge? What's that?
My exit is coming up? I'll just wait, and swing over from lane 2 right at the barrier. EXCEPT WHEN ...
Oh here's a merging entrance ramp that turns into an exit a mile up? I MUST COME OVER RIGHT NOW !!!
.. and, similarly, entrance ramps from the feeders can only be accessed from the far right lane.

etc. etc. etc.

I think we're a great melting pot .... of the nations worst drivers

That don't believe in turn signals.

 

[oldag]

That don't believe in turn signals.

What's a turn signal?

 

[1911'S 4 Me]

What's a turn signal?

They are useless unless you have the fluid in them.

 

[popper]

Kinda like 635 in north Dallas? Or the 75/35 bypass with the park? Forget it. IIRC they did think moving the emergency gen from the base of herman hosp. to a non-flood zone. Txdot engg are laid-off pretzel benders.

 

[GeorgeS]

What's a turn signal?

A sign of weakness.

 

[Brains]

A sign of weakness.

It's either a courtesy or a dare, depending on the type of driver you're working with.

 

[msharley]

What's a turn signal?

They all quit puttin' those on cars............in 1972!