HOUSTON – Major lane closures on I-10 near downtown are underway Thursday night beginning at 10 p.m., and Houston-area drivers who rely on the corridor say their commutes are about to get much worse.
The long-term construction project is part of TxDOT’s plan to elevate I-10 over White Oak Bayou to prevent future flood shutdowns.
It will shrink the freeway to just two westbound lanes between I-45 and Heights Boulevard until about mid-2026.
Jerry Carwile, who regularly drives from north Houston into the area, said he’ll use the back roads because of the expected traffic congestion.
“It’ll have a major impact. It’s already congested as everything and they’re gonna shut it down for how long? Months. Yeah, that’s way too much,” Carwile said.
For Heights resident Jessica Plate, the impacts of earlier construction have already made everyday life more difficult, and she expects the new closures to make things dramatically worse.
“I work downtown. I’m driving back and forth at least one time every day and already the current construction is putting a big headache in all of my commute,” Plate said.
Key changes include:
- I-10 Westbound: reduced to two lanes between I-45 and Houston Avenue.
- I-45 South to I-10 West connector: closed until mid-2026.
- I-10 East to I-45 North connector: closed until 2028.
Phase 1 of the project — the two-lane traffic switch — runs through mid-2026.
Full completion is expected in 2028.
Once finished, TxDOT says the elevated I-10 will:
- Stay open during heavy rain and major storms.
- Feature a reconstructed Houston Avenue Bridge and new connectors.
- Add a two-mile pedestrian and bike trail along White Oak Bayou.
TxDOT officials say it’s all part of keeping Houston’s roads moving even when the rain doesn’t stop.