News Release: from the Katy Freeway Public Information Office
Total Closure of I-10 Between Silber and Washington
Wednesday, Jan 26th, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UPCOMING TOTAL CLOSURE OF THE EAST AND WESTBOUND I-10 MAINLANES AND VARIOUS I-10/I-610 DIRECT CONNECTORS
(Houston, Texas) – This weekend, January 28-30, 2005, the Texas Department of Transportation's contractor for the I-10/I-610 Interchange reconstruction will complete the demolition of the old North Post Oak Bridge, by dismantling the remaining northbound lanes of the now out-of-service bridge. The steps, traffic control and detours for this weekend's work is very similar to the demolition plan for the southbound lanes of the bridge which here demolished last May. The related freeway and ramp closures are detailed below including the scheduled dates, times and designated detours for each.
SCHEDULED CLOSURES AND DETOURS
Starting Friday, January 28 at 9 PM until 6 PM, Saturday, January 29* the mainlanes of I-10 eastbound and westbound (including the HOV) between Silber and Washington Avenue will be closed. Simultaneously, the direct connectors from I-610 northbound and southbound to I-10 West will be closed.
I-10 eastbound traffic will be detoured via the I-610 North and South direct connectors. Eastbound drivers can travel south to exit Woodway and make a U-turn to access I-10 East by way of the I-610 northbound to I-10 East direct connector. An alternate route to continue eastbound travel will be to travel north on I-610 to exit 18th Street and make U-turn to access the I-610 southbound to I-10 East direct connector.
I-10 westbound traffic will be provided four alternate detours:
1. I-10 westbound drivers can exit Washington Avenue to Old Katy Road to re-enter I-10 westbound via the Silber entrance ramp.
2. The I-10 westbound direct connectors to I-610 North and South will remain open throughout the demolition, which will allow I-10 westbound drivers the option of detouring via the northbound ramp to I-610 to exit 18th Street and make a U-turn to access Old Katy Road to re-enter I-10 West via the Silber entrance ramp.
3. I-610 southbound traffic destine for I-10 West will also be detoured to Old Katy Road to access I-10 westbound via the Silber entrance ramp.
4. I-610 northbound traffic destine to I-10 West will be detoured to I-10 eastbound to exit Washington and directed to follow the detour to Old Katy Road to re-enter I-10 West using the Silber entrance ramp.
Removal and clean-up of the area over I-10 eastbound will be a main priority. Once the mainlanes of I-10 eastbound are clean the lanes will be reopened to traffic at or before 9 PM, Saturday May 15.
Starting Saturday, January 29 at 6 PM until 5 AM, Monday, January 31** the I-10 eastbound direct connectors to I-610 north and southbound will be closed. Additionally, I-10 westbound and the direct connectors from I-610 North and South to I-10 West will remain closed. Each of the I-10 westbound detours indicated above will remain applicable.
During this time period I-10 eastbound travel will be restored, however I-10 eastbound traffic to I-610 north and south will be detoured from I-10 eastbound via Washington Avenue and directed to U-turn to access the I-10 westbound direct connectors to I-610 North and South.
Each of the closures and the designated detours discussed above will be indicated with advance notice signage and police officers will be on-duty to assist in the direction of traffic at the various freeway closures and intersections. Worth mentioning is the fact that the contractor is charged a "lane rental fee" of $32,000 per hour for total freeway closures, which inherently creates a secondary incentive to get the lanes open as quickly as possible.
For more information on the Katy Freeway Reconstruction Program including up to date information regarding other lane closures along the I-10 corridor, please visit the Katy Freeway website at www.katyfreeway.org or contact the Katy Freeway Public Information Office at 281-589-5924.
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*Refer to the linked graphic at http://www.katyfreeway.org/Post_Oak_Bridge.html#part1 for an illustration of the designated closures and detours.
**Refer to the linked graphic at http://www.katyfreeway.org/Post_Oak_Bridge.html#part2 for an illustration of the designated closures and detours.
