I-10 will shrink to 2 lanes through next year for a $400M elevation project. Here’s what to know.

A busy stretch of Interstate 10 near Highland will be reduced to two lanes next week and will remain so until the middle of next year as construction crews work on a $400 million elevation project that will close the connecting ramp near Interstate 45 and disrupt commuting for months.

Starting Friday night, the Texas Department of Transportation plans to temporarily close all westbound lanes on I-10 between I-45 and Taylor Street for the White Oak Bayou elevation project. The full closure will last until Monday morning, when TxDOT said it will open two lanes on I-10 until mid-2026.

The lengthy closure follows the closure of two other westbound lanes of I-10 between Interstate 45 and Studmont earlier this year.

“When these big projects happen, it’s really difficult for residents and commuters to get in and out of downtown,” said Mustafa Tamez, president of the Houston Transportation Advocacy Group.

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Last year, an average of more than 200,000 vehicles used the stretch of road every day, according to TxDOT traffic data. While the lane closures may be frustrating for drivers, Tamez said the ongoing construction is a sign of economic growth and reflects Houston’s growing population.

“On short hauls, it’s inconvenient. It adds to our commute time,” he said. “But in the long term it will improve mobility and safety.”

What about the closures on I-10 and I-45?

Here are TxDOT’s planned long-term closures:

• Starting Monday, two lanes of I-10 will be open to traffic between I-45 and Houston Avenue. TxDOT plans to reopen more lanes on I-10 by mid-2026.

• The connecting ramp from I-10 eastbound to I-45 northbound will be closed Thursday until mid-2028. It will be rebuilt with a proposed bridge.

• The southbound I-45 connector ramp to I-10 westbound, including HOV lanes, will be closed Thursday to allow for removal and reinstallation at the new elevated height. Will reopen in 2026.

Temporary closures are also planned in the same area:

• All westbound lanes of I-10 from I-45 to Taylor Street, the I-10 westbound entrance ramp from Louisiana Avenue, and the I-10 westbound connector ramp to southbound I-45 will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday

• The I-45 northbound connector ramp to I-10 and the I-45 southbound entrance ramp from North Main Street will be closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday

Peter Eccles, director of policy and planning for the advocacy group Link Houston, said the current closures are a taste of what’s to come as construction projects continue in and around downtown.

He said the closure would affect people traveling between the Highlands and the suburbs and the inner ring road. He suggested agencies provide temporary transit lanes for public transportation to help people avoid I-10 traffic.

“Interstate 10 is the main thoroughfare. It serves people who live within the loop, all the way to the Grand Parkway in Katy and Cypress … and people who travel along that route to their destinations,” he said.

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What detours should you take on I-10 and I-45?

I-10 eastbound connector ramp to I-45 northbound travelers:

• Use the connecting ramp to the 610 Loop northbound

• Continue north on 610 Loop and follow 610 Loop

• Travel over I-45 using the connecting ramps to I-45

I-45 southbound connector ramp to I-10 westbound travelers:

• Take I-45 southbound and use the connecting ramp to I-10 eastbound

• Exit Mackey/Hardy Street, turn left onto Hardy Street, then left onto Providence Street

• Use the Providence Street entrance ramp to enter I-10 westbound

Travelers on I-10 westbound from I-45 to Taylor Street

• Take I-45 north and use the connector ramp to the 610 Loop westbound

• Continue on the 610 Loop and use the ramp to I-10 to access the freeway

I-10 westbound entrance ramp for travelers coming from Louisiana Avenue:

• Take I-10 west, turn right on Franklin Street

• Turn left on Travis Street and merge onto I-45 northbound

• Follow detour signs to I-10 westbound

I-10 westbound connector ramp to I-45 southbound travelers:

• From the I-45 northbound exit, take the connecting ramp to the 610 Loop westbound

• Continue westbound on the 610 Loop and use the connector ramp to I-10 eastbound

• Take the main road onto I-45 southbound

I-45 northbound connector ramp to I-10 Passengers:

• Continue on I-45 northbound and use the connecting ramp to the 610 Loop westbound

• Continue west on the 610 Loop and use the connecting ramp to I-10 to access the highway

I-45 southbound entrance ramp for travelers coming from North Street:

• Continue on North Main Street and turn left onto North Freeway Service Road

• Make a U-turn at Patton Street and use the next available entrance ramp onto I-45 southbound

Why was Interstate 10 closed in Houston for so long?

The White Oak Bayou Elevation Project will raise major lanes of I-10 between Highland Avenue and Interstate 45 to alleviate flooding. The Texas Department of Transportation also plans to demolish the Houston Avenue Bridge, which has been the site of frequent truck attacks over the years.

The agency plans to lower Houston Boulevard below I-10 lanes. Trucks with more than 14.3 feet of clearance have hit the bridge multiple times, a problem all too familiar to Houstonians stuck in traffic jams after disasters.

Construction on the Houston Avenue portion of the project is expected to begin in early 2027. The entire facade project is scheduled to be completed in 2028.

This article was originally published on By next year, I-10 will be reduced to two lanes for a $400 million elevation project. Here’s what to know..