US 290/Beltway 8 Interchange Animation

[randyseck]

This is what America has become. Paved Paradise, Put up a parking lot.

[demmeri]

Just Katy the darn thing already---Katy everything, I'm sick of the world

[refresh967]

@willubhave no thats just the pre construction. they just widen a bit and get things ready the real construction will start in 2011

[TxDOTpio]

Thanks for your comment. The older-style mast lighting is not used by TxDOT anymore. According to engineers it was less efficient with higher power consumption and less photometric flexibility to avoid light trespass and light pollution issues on adjacent properties.

[pderry11]

@TxDOTpio I've actually wondered about those older lights for a while now. The design is very unusual and I'm interested in what the engineering rationale was behind them at the time because they don't seem to be used in too many other places around the state: just Houston, a little bit in San Antonio, and maybe Fort Worth.

[TxDOTpio]

@pderry11 Thanks for your comment. The addition of collector distributors along US 290 at the BW 8 interchange will be used in this instance to allow us to put more traffic through the interchange & reduce congestion without completely rebuilding everything. The collector distributors allow the traffic entering & exiting the freeway to perform the weave movements away from the mainlanes, thus reducing the congestion impact created by those movements. Hope this explanation helps!

[TxDOTpio]

@pderry11 Thanks for your comment. The addition of collector distributors along US 290 at the BW 8 interchange will be used in this instance to allow us to put more traffic through the interchange & reduce congestion without completely rebuilding everything. The collector distributors allow the traffic entering & exiting the freeway to perform the weave movements away from the mainlanes, thus reducing the congestion impact created by those movements. Hope this explanation helps!

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

looks like all that will be done is removal of the nw metro hovl .

[insidejobb]

This needs to be a #1 Priority Project!

[refresh967]

@insidejobb no the #1 prority for houston is to biuld 5 new light rails. it will be finished in 2012

[TxDOTpio]

1) Total cost is approx $4.6B 2) Amount of ROW needed varies depending on the location in question 3) Construction on a portion of the US 290/I-610 Interchange is scheduled to begin in 2011, pending environmental clearance; overall completion estimated in 2024. 4) The project has not yet been let to bid 5) Proposed detention ponds can be found at various locations along corridor, many at large interchanges. For more info, please visit the US 290 Program website, or contact the Program Office

[TxDOTpio]

While the Katy Freeway involved construction in one corridor, our program involves the reconstruction and widening of two parallel corridors, US 290 and the Hempstead Tollway. Right of Way will be acquired from both corridors, spreading out impact between them.

[TxDOTpio]

As for the number of lanes on US 290, our program plans call for expanding the roadway to 5 lanes in each direction from I-610 to just west of SH 6. We will install new high-mast illumination along US 290. We are also keeping aesthetics in mind our program will follow the TxDOT Houston Districts Green Ribbon Project. You can read more about the Green Ribbon Project by visiting their Web site.

[TxDOTpio]

The existing US 290/Beltway 8 interchange will remain; at this time, we do not anticipate having to remove any of the Direct Connectors between the two facilities. However, although we will construct some Direct Connectors between the Hempstead Tollway and Beltway 8, its not possible to construct a full interchange between the two facilities due to the limited amount of space in the area.

[TxDOTpio]

As part of the US 290 Program we will construct Direct Connectors between US 290 and the Hempstead Tollway at 3 locations, Huffmeister, Mason and Bauer.

The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) will be constructing the Hempstead Tollway. The tollway will have entrances and exits at select major cross streets; the more opportunities to enter and exit a roadway, the more places where motorists on the mainlanes have to slow down to accommodate those movements, which decreases mobility.

[CAMINOANDALUZ]

WOW!!!

a promising future.

[Freewayjim]

Very impressive!

This is the equivalent of porn for Roadgeeks/Highway Enthusiasts :)

[TxDOTpio]

Thank you. This is a wonderful project and will help tremendously with traffic congestion in Houston. :)

[TxDOTpio]

Appreciate your comments. I'll be sure to pass them on. Thanks!

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

just one question how are they gonna manage this ? this is a little more extensive clearing compared to the katy freeway

[TxDOTpio]

Work on the US 290 Program will be shared by 2 agencies: TxDOT will take charge of the work on US 290, and the Harris County Toll Road Authority will construct the Hempstead Tollway. The two existing corridors will be used to minimize impacts along each roadway and the work will be phased to avoid having major portions of both roadways under construction at the same time. For more info go to their Web site my290 (dot) com.

[ScrewdUPClickV2]

the interchange looks impressive .. but i think the old stands out more of a houston landmark . one of the best in the city

[GordonWalton]

Someday TxDOT will be held accountable for it's arrogance, the criminal parasites will be exposed/tossed out/hopefully imprisoned and we will get our Texas Highway Department back that once built and maintained the best roads in the country. TxDOT acts like they are only here to tax and toll the public with wild abandon.