Road closures

We continue to make great progress with the Interstate 610 (South Loop)/Cambridge project. Each day, we work with the contractor to take every opportunity to accelerate work, wherever possible, to complete this $117 million project both efficiently and expeditiously. The project includes the reconstruction of mainlanes, frontage roads, and the addition of a freeway overpass with eight direct connect tie-ins at I-610 and State Highway 288. Construction began in early 2020 and is estimated for completion in early 2025. It is being financed by State and Federal funds.

As one of six (6) Texas Clear Lanes projects in the Houston area, it is designed to improve traffic flow and connectivity, reduce congestion, add capacity, create better connectivity with SH 288, and improve overall mobility in the surrounding area. Situated in South-Central Houston, the project prioritizes better connectivity between the Medical Center, major event venues such as NRG Stadium, the Museum District, Historic Third Ward, and multiple colleges and universities.

Typical construction shifts are from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and/or 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Currently, Williams Brothers Construction Co. continues reconstructing mainlines, frontage roads, and constructing the Interstate 610 eastbound mainlane bridge over FM 521/Almeda Road, including working on direct connector ramps to and from State Highway 288 as well as I-610.  The I-610 South Loop eastbound mainlanes between Fannin Street and Scott Street continue being reconstructed, with an anticipated completion in late 2024. This included removal the old retaining walls from the east and west sides of the I-610 bridge over FM 521/ Almeda Rd, removal of the old I-610 eastbound main-lane bridge bent caps and columns and currently forming and placing concrete for columns and bent caps for the proposed new bridge over FM 521/Almeda Rd which is estimated for completion by the end of October. The I-610 South Loop eastbound frontage road from Fannin Street to SH 288 remains under construction with estimated completion in spring 2024, on the west side of FM 521/Almeda Rd which remains under construction from north of Holmes Road to Holly Hall Road. This work on FM 521/Almeda Rd is estimated to be completed by the end of September 2023. Work is also ongoing to place new high mast lighting along the new mainlanes of I-610 South Loop.

The contractor should begin setting the concrete beams by mid-fall 2023, including the steel girder beams crossing over FM/521/Almeda Rd. Installation of the proposed retaining walls on the west side of the bridge is almost complete; currently working on the retaining walls on the east side of the bridge over FM 521/Almeda Rd. Work continues on the computerized transportation management system and signal systems for the new proposed Cambridge intersection that will cross under I-610 South Loop main-lanes; adding sidewalks along FM 521/Almeda Rd and I-610 eastbound frontage road where sections of the roadway have been completed. The contractor began drilling operations in August 2023 for the new proposed elevated ramp from the I-610 eastbound frontage road to I-610 eastbound mainlanes to enable access from the mainlanes to I-610 eastbound.    

Storm sewer operations are ongoing along FM 521/Almeda Rd and the I-610 eastbound main-lanes on the west sides of SH 288. Intersection reconstruction continues on the I-610 eastbound frontage road on the east and west sides of FM 521/Almeda Rd including north and southbound FM 521/Almeda Rd from under the I-610 mainlanes to south of I-610.  Williams Brothers is also working on concrete pavement at Union Pacific Railroad tracks on I-610 eastbound frontage road and on east Almeda Rd including removal and replacement of driveways. UPRR also has some railroad signal work to be completed on the I-610 eastbound frontage road on the east side of FM 521/Almeda Rd. Once the rail work is complete, the contactor will be able to complete the final section of paving over the railroad tracks, providing three (3) frontage road lanes across the tracks.

Finally, Williams Brothers has placed sod along the I-610 eastbound frontage road east of FM 521/Almeda Rd where the sections of roadway paving are complete. Sod placement also continues on the east end of the project along the I-610 westbound direct connector ramps to SH 288.

• Reconstruction of the I-610 eastbound mainlanes connector ramps (C&H) to SH 288 northbound and southbound.
• Reconstruction of the SH 288 northbound and southbound connector ramps (B&E) to I-610 eastbound mainlanes.
• Construction of proposed entrance ramp from I-610 eastbound frontage road (east of FM 521/Almeda Rd to SH 288. 
• Construction of proposed entrance ramp from I-610 Eastbound frontage road from east of FM 521/ Almeda Rd to I-610 eastbound mainlanes.
• Construction of the Cambridge "signalized" intersection that will cross under I-610 South Loop between the I-610 westbound and eastbound frontage road.
• Construction of new overhead sign bridges; new striping and roadway sign placement.
• Reconstruction of proposed I-610 eastbound mainlanes from east of Fannin St to west side of Scott St.
• Reconstruction of the I-610 eastbound mainlane bridge over Cambridge St., FM 521/Almeda Rd/UPRR.

• Removal of old existing I-610 eastbound mainlane bridge over FM 521/Almeda Rd/UPRR.
• Removal of old retaining wall west of FM 521/Almeda Rd.
• Completed all drilled shafts for the proposed I-610 eastbound mainlane bridge including the new I-610 eastbound mainlane bridge over Cambridge St (which will be able to cross under I-610).
• Reconstruction of new retaining walls west of FM 521/Almeda Rd.
• Crews completed most of the proposed FM 521/Almeda Rd Intersection reconstruction.
• Crews completed driveways and one (1) complete lane of the I-610 eastbound frontage road between FM 521/Almeda Rd to SH 288, including partial lanes of I-610 eastbound frontage road approaching FM 521/Almeda Rd.
• Completion of 95% of storm sewer installation along the FM 521/Almeda Rd Intersection.
• Installation of three (3) new High Mast Lights.
• Crews have graded and placed sod along the I-610 eastbound frontage road between FM 521/Almeda Rd and SH 288.
• Sod placement along the I-610 westbound frontage road at the SH 288 exit connector ramps from I-610 westbound mainlanes
• Crews have placed concrete rip rap along the I-610 westbound frontage road between SH 288 to FM 521/Almeda Rd.
• Ongoing work on electrical and CTMS at the FM 521/Almeda Rd and Cambridge Intersections.

• February 2022 – completion of SH 288 northbound and southbound connectors (D&G) to I-610 westbound. This work included the opening of the new connector to FM 521/Almeda Rd northbound - allowing SH 288 traffic to have direct access.
• July 2022 – completion of new I-610 westbound connectors (A&F) to SH 288 northbound and southbound.
• August 2022 – new entrance ramp to SH 288 from the I-610 South Loop westbound frontage road (west of Scott Street) was opened to traffic.
• October 2022 – existing I-610 South Loop bridge over FM 521/Almeda Rd and Union Pacific Railroad was demolished and removed.

The $117 million project is a Texas Clear Lanes project which will offer traffic congestion relief and increased mobility with the reconstruction of mainlanes, frontage roads, and the addition of a freeway overpass with eight direct connect tie-ins at Interstate 610/State Highway 288.

The eight direct connect tie-ins will complete and link the partially completed connector ramps already built as a part of the SH 288 Express Toll Lane project, completed in July 2022. View more information on the SH 288 Express Toll Lane project.

The project will utilize a four-phased approach and has an estimated completion date of mid to late 2025.