June 4, 2018: Bridge and Road Updates
Beltway 8 bridge expansion, improvements to State Highways 225 and 146, and freight transportation priorities in support of economic growth were described to the Deer Park Community Advisory Council (DPCAC) at its June meeting.
Matt Kainer of the Harris County Toll Road Authority shared plans for the expansion of the Beltway 8 Bridge over the Houston Ship Channel. When complete, the bridge will have four lanes in each direction instead of two, as well as shoulders. The ascent and descent will be less steep, and curves will be smoothed out so that vehicles may maintain speed. During the first phase of construction, new southbound main lanes will be built. The current bridge will then be demolished, and a northbound sister bridge will be constructed. Southbound bridge construction will begin this year. Demolition of the existing bridge is slated for 2021, and northbound bridge construction should be completed by 2024.
Current, proposed, and long-term projects for State Highways (SH) 225 and 146 were described by Maria Aponte, Assistant Area Engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Southeast Harris Area Office. Landscaping and illumination improvements are beginning along SH 225 as are improvements to the SH 225-Battleground Road intersection. The major TxDOT project beginning this year is expansion of SH 146. The initial focus will be from Fairmont Parkway south to SH 96. The number of lanes will be expanded from 6 to 12, grade separations will be added at intersections, access roads will be built in certain locations, and express lanes will carry thru traffic over Clear Creek. In conjunction with the expansion of the ship channel bridge, direct connectors will be built from SH 225 to Beltway 8. Looking more than a decade ahead, TxDOT anticipates that SH 225 will need widening. Aponte’s slides are attached.
Chad Burke, President of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region, said that freight transportation improvements are essential to support growth in industry and PortHouston. The alliance’s Transportation Committee recently developed and prioritized a list of freight transportation projects and is working with Harris County and TxDOT to determine how to implement them. Burke’s slides are attached.
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