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When the I-69/I-610 interchange project was originally announced, TxDOT said it would "improve safety and mobility while reducing congestion by widening the connector ramps to two lanes, increasing sight distances and vertical clearances, and providing remedies to eliminate weaving."

However, the ramp onto the 610 West Loop was never enlarged to two lanes.

Now that the work is nearly complete, TxDOT says it is not all their fault. They insist they intended to make the exit ramp two lanes, but the plan was scrapped because of right-of-way issues in the nearby Afton Oaks neighborhood.

"We recognize this is a major concern," TxDOT public information officer Danny Perez told Chron. "But because of space issues in the area, the funds were not available to make it two lanes. Obviously, we would have done it if we could."

"We will look at it in the future when funding becomes available," Perez said, insisting the plan to make the ramp two lanes is not dead. "We will address it later."

TxDOT said that while they were not able to make the busy ramp two lanes, they were able to make it wider and add more shoulder space and safety remedies. "We improved efficiency and safety. We didn't widen it to two lanes," Perez said.

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jamesf said:

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Quote:

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When the I-69/I-610 interchange project was originally announced, TxDOT said it would "improve safety and mobility while reducing congestion by widening the connector ramps to two lanes, increasing sight distances and vertical clearances, and providing remedies to eliminate weaving."

However, the ramp onto the 610 West Loop was never enlarged to two lanes.

Now that the work is nearly complete, TxDOT says it is not all their fault. They insist they intended to make the exit ramp two lanes, but the plan was scrapped because of right-of-way issues in the nearby Afton Oaks neighborhood.

"We recognize this is a major concern," TxDOT public information officer Danny Perez told Chron. "But because of space issues in the area, the funds were not available to make it two lanes. Obviously, we would have done it if we could."

"We will look at it in the future when funding becomes available," Perez said, insisting the plan to make the ramp two lanes is not dead. "We will address it later."

TxDOT said that while they were not able to make the busy ramp two lanes, they were able to make it wider and add more shoulder space and safety remedies. "We improved efficiency and safety. We didn't widen it to two lanes," Perez said.

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https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/610-west-loop-traffic-18679660.php

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jamesf said:

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Now that the work is nearly complete, TxDOT says it is not all their fault. They insist they intended to make the exit ramp two lanes, but the plan was scrapped because of right-of-way issues in the nearby Afton Oaks neighborhood.

"We recognize this is a major concern," TxDOT public information officer Danny Perez told Chron. "But because of space issues in the area, the funds were not available to make it two lanes. Obviously, we would have done it if we could."

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Diggity said:

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DDub74 said:

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Why after billions of dollars and 25 years of road repairs and redesign, did they make the north bound exit to 610 from 59 going west from Downtown/Kirby area only one lane? This picture is from Sunday afternoon at 3:00 and its backed up for a good half mile. I counted 25 cars cutting in at the front while I patiently waited in the backed up line. Luckily I don't go this way too often.

Why too lanes South when I counted about twice as many folks wanting to go north.

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don't worry, those two south lanes are there as a convenient waiting area for all the *******s to cut

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P.H. Dexippus said:

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jamesf said:

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Quote:

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Now that the work is nearly complete, TxDOT says it is not all their fault. They insist they intended to make the exit ramp two lanes, but the plan was scrapped because of right-of-way issues in the nearby Afton Oaks neighborhood.

"We recognize this is a major concern," TxDOT public information officer Danny Perez told Chron. "But because of space issues in the area, the funds were not available to make it two lanes. Obviously, we would have done it if we could."

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This should come as a surprise for everyone who lived through the completion of Beltway 8 West that gutted the heart of Memorial Bend.

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Thought they would have certainly rerouted 45 / Pierce around downtown by now due to racism.

Also the two lane dip on 45N right around Memorial / Washington has got to be one of the worst designed roads of all time.

That dip been causing traffic and wrecks for 50-years.

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Furlock Bones said:

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yup. i don't know how you solve 610 between 59 and I10. it is a disaster.

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Agree double decker would have been cool, but regardless with several new million illegals and Californians here, traffic will always be bad and TXDOT and Metro will always be incompetent and waster billions each year.

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Its been 20-years since deathrail went online for the 2004 Superbowl and since that time this is the extent of light rail construction.

A system that does nothing to alleviate traffic on surface streets in and around downtown and train crossings make surface streets much worse and dangerous.

Also closing Main street through downtown Houston to put in a water feature may be the most senseless idea of all time. Second only to building a multi-million dollar dog park inside the banks of the bayou and renovating an abandoned underground cistern.

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CDUB98 said:

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IIRC, didn't they also think about running one straight down the middle of I-10 during that expansion, but it was scrapped as too costly...even for the government?

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Biz Ag said:

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Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Its been 20-years since deathrail went online for the 2004 Superbowl and since that time this is the extent of light rail construction.

A system that does nothing to alleviate traffic on surface streets in and around downtown and train crossings make surface streets much worse and dangerous.

Also closing Main street through downtown Houston to put in a water feature may be the most senseless idea of all time. Second only to building a multi-million dollar dog park inside the banks of the bayou and renovating an abandoned underground cistern.

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At one point they were talking about a light rail line running down the middle of 59/69 from downtown to south of the Galleria just outside 610.

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I think it was going to run down Richmond but the business owners revolted because it was going to wipe them out during construction.

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