http://swamplot.com/big-i-45-downtown-rerouting-grand-parkway-expansion-get-go-aheads/2017-03-29/

45 is moving to the East of downtown.

Wow! T&P for traffic.

It'll cost $1.25 billion to put a 2 lane section of grand parkway between 59N and i10 east?!

The Milkman said:

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It'll cost $1.25 billion to put a 2 lane section of grand parkway between 59N and i10 east?!

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I think its still grade separated and has like 20 overpasses over 40 miles so not exactly a standard two lane highway

I don't understand why they're doing this. What are their actual plans for the space that's being abandoned by old I45? What's the end goal? Is this supposed to improve traffic flow long term?

Waffledynamics said:

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I don't understand why they're doing this. What are their actual plans for the space that's being abandoned by old I45? What's the end goal? Is this supposed to improve traffic flow long term?

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This was my first question as well...how the hell will this help traffic when the CF that is the 288/59/45 interchange will still be there

Waffledynamics said:

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I don't understand why they're doing this. What are their actual plans for the space that's being abandoned by old I45? What's the end goal? Is this supposed to improve traffic flow long term?

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along the route from 10 to Louisiana, there will be a parkway. from Louisiana to 59, the pierce elevated will be removed.

(this is depicted in the photograph)


This is supposed to improve traffic flow.

Where in the F are they going to put 45 next to 59 behind GRB?

Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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Where in the F are they going to put 45 next to 59 behind GRB?

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Underground

I would imagine the plan requires them to buy the entire block from Chartres to St. Emanuel for the entire length from Runnels down to the current I-45/59/288 interchange.

Exactly how is this going to be any improvement to traffic? Doesn't address any of the problem areas and seems like a monstrous waste of money to me.

I wasn't able to say anything about this for awhile as a former intern at Central Houston but this has been in the works since 2014. TxDOT was adamant on wanting to re-route the interstates in Downtown Houston and three of the four plans (including this one) seemed like disasters. Love when our city does stupid stuff.

YellAg2004 said:

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I would imagine the plan requires them to buy the entire block from Chartres to St. Emanuel for the entire length from Runnels down to the current I-45/59/288 interchange.

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Yep. Will be a lot of money spent on condemnation of existing structures on the east side of 59 in that area. I'm sure property values just shot through the roof as well.

The I-45 change seem like a really stupid idea to me. I'd need to see the full plans and discuss with the engineers to be convinced this will improve traffic.

schmellba99 said:

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YellAg2004 said:

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I would imagine the plan requires them to buy the entire block from Chartres to St. Emanuel for the entire length from Runnels down to the current I-45/59/288 interchange.

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Yep. Will be a lot of money spent on condemnation of existing structures on the east side of 59 in that area. I'm sure property values just shot through the roof as well.

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as a homeowner in EaDo, I am cool with that.

Does any of this plan have to do with the condition of the Pierce elevated? It seems like they're just moving I-45 from one ROW-constrained location to another ROW-constrained location. The ROW constraints are a given since it's going through downtown, but it seems like there's more driving it other than being able to add 1-2 lanes in each direction. The thing that jumps to mind is that the Pierce is in poor condition and it's easier to build an entirely new freeway in a new location than rehab/replace the Pierce in its current location. You have any insight on that?

The rationale as I understand it. It improves traffic by adding a ****-ton of new lanes (albeit in a new location, which doesnt really matter (theoretically) as the Pierce has no entrances and exits and serves no local destinations anyway, they are only through lanes). The Pierce elevated cannot be widened, likely because it would be tons of money just to acquire ROW and would likely need to acquire property owned by some pretty large and powerful organizations (like say maybe the catholic church or the federal government). It's likely much more feasible to acquire ROW in east downtown which in a lot of areas is cheaper wasteland, and getting rid of the Pierce elevated allows them to sell the land under it to offset some of the costs of acquiring ROW that they will need. Calling this an I-45 project in the downtown zone is kind of a misnomer, they are rerouting the 45 through lanes, yes, but really the project is a massive expansion of I-10 and US59/I69 by almost doubling the capacity of each in the area.

Most people I talk to act like the freeway on the east side of downtown will basically be staying the same, but under this plan its turning into a huge ****ing superfreeway that is two entire city blocks wide and includes 3 lane feeder roads.

Waffledynamics said:

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I don't understand why they're doing this. What are their actual plans for the space that's being abandoned by old I45? What's the end goal? Is this supposed to improve traffic flow long term?

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I'm guessing someone has grand plans for their personal property holdings on the west side of downtown. Usability and property values should skyrocket not having one of the most major freeways anywhere running through their backyard - with closest proximity to downtown.

One of the more interesting things I've seen online is an elevated workout / exercise park. I like the idea

Personally, from an aesthetic standpoint, I like the plan. There is no need for downtown to be ringed by elevated freeways on all sides, particularly one like the Pierce, which is just flyover lanes with no local traffic. Its awfully expensive though, and I suspect is going to take a long, long time to complete. I would assume that the Pierce will serve traffic until the rest is finished, I hope.

Link to the original thread...

https://texags.com/forums/38/topics/2503391/1

CDUB98 said:

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Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

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Here is the full ******ed plan

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Yeah, this has noooooo chance of ever flooding....

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well, isn't flooding of roadways kind of part of the plan?

Will it flood?

Bucketrunner said:

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It would be nice if the cluster that is 290 could be completed in my lifetime. Here's hoping they don't hire that construction firm.

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Me and my fellow engineers were just discussing 290 and it's zombie-like perpetual construction.

There were several firms who did the final design from what I understand.

YellAg2004 said:

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Does any of this plan have to do with the condition of the Pierce elevated? It seems like they're just moving I-45 from one ROW-constrained location to another ROW-constrained location. The ROW constraints are a given since it's going through downtown, but it seems like there's more driving it other than being able to add 1-2 lanes in each direction. The thing that jumps to mind is that the Pierce is in poor condition and it's easier to build an entirely new freeway in a new location than rehab/replace the Pierce in its current location. You have any insight on that?

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All plans included removal of the Pierce elevated IIRC. One included a tunnel and an expressway where the Pierce elevated is, one included an expressway, and one included a three-lane road both ways with greenspace. What was never proposed while I interned there was the idea this would be apart of the Grand Parkway.