HOUSTON -- A road construction project that will begin on the Katy Freeway next week will shut down several busy ramps for months, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Two connector ramps of the Katy Freeway and Beltway 8 interchange will be closed on April 6 with a third one closed in mid-April.

The first ramp closure will affect traffic heading south on Beltway 8 to Interstate 10 westbound and eastbound.

Drivers will be forced to exit Westview Drive from the toll road and stay on the feeder road.

The Texas Department of Transportation refers to the area under the Katy Freeway and Beltway 8 as the pit. It is often congested in every direction even without ramp closures.

"Our recommendation is that everyone stay on the service road, and that we're going to have two dedicated lanes to turn right, westbound, onto the service road for the Katy Freeway," said Calvin Harvey with the Harris County Toll Road Authority.

Two weeks after the southbound closures, traffic heading northbound on Beltway 8 to Interstate 10 East will be forced to exit at Memorial Drive.

The three ramps will be closed through mid-July so that new ramps can be constructed.

Motorists were not happy with news of the closures.

"Traffic is horrible on I-10 right now," motorist Michael De La Rosa said. "I guess I'm going to have to find some back streets to get there -- a lot of lights."

For more information on the project, visit www.katyfreeway.org.

Check Traffic Now:

• Houston TranStar Real-Time Traffic Map


• Traffic Pulse Real-Time Traffic Map


• Traffic Section


• Houston Transtar


• Texas Dept. of Transportation Web site or call 800-452-9292


• Harris County Office of Emergency Management Web site

Check Construction Information:

Map: Freeway Construction Projects
TxDOT Freeway Construction Schedule