Long-term closures begin on I-10 Katy Freeway to elevate road, prevent flooding

HOUSTON — Drivers on Interstate 10 Katy Freeway will deal with a long-term construction project. Closures started so TxDOT can raise all four lanes of the Katy Freeway to prevent the highway from flooding.

The freeway has flooded 10 times in the past 30 years after significant rain events, and the Houston Avenue bridge, the lowest in the area, has been hit over and over again by 18 wheelers with oversize loads. 

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The project will raise the freeway and allow the construction of a reservoir underneath the freeway.

Raising the highway will solve the problems but not as soon as many would like. The project was scheduled to take four years.

“Initially I didn’t know much about it. All I knew is they were closing off some of the entrances,” said Heights resident Cathy Krznar. “I know one of the entrances I tend to take sometimes, I knew it would be closed. But I thought it would only be closed overnight.”

The Taylor Street exit and entrance ramps to I-10 are now closed indefinitely for the I-10 White Oak Bayou Project. Some of the other closures are as follows:

Beginning January 8 the I-10 Katy Freeway westbound Taylor Street exit and entrance ramp will be closed for the duration of the project. 

• Taylor Street entrance ramp: All northbound and southbound traffic from Taylor Street needing to access the I-10 westbound mainlanes will need continue straight on Taylor St crossing I-10 to Sawyer Street. From Sawyer Street, make a right onto Washington Avenue. From Washington Avenue make a right turn onto Studemont Street to I-10 Katy Freeway frontage road to the next available entrance ramp.
• Taylor Street exit ramp: All traffic will continue along the mainlanes and take the Studemont Street exit ramp and U-turn at the intersection. Traffic will then continue on the eastbound frontage road to access Taylor St.

TxDOT is asking drivers to pay attention to the changing road closures.

“Be mindful of the traffic switches that will go on throughout the duration of the project. Be mindful of our construction workers, they want to go home and see their families at night too,” Kristina Hadley, TxDOT spokesperson told KHOU 11.