HOUSTON — The Texas Department of Transportation is moving forward with plans to expand portions of Interstate 45 in and around downtown Houston.
Tonight, there will be a community meeting where residents can voice their opinions about the massive road project.
This plan has been met with a lot of push back with a lot of the controversy has been about the portion of the project that impacts downtown and the parts of I-45 just north of downtown.
Now, TxDOT is holding public meetings to inform residents about construction on I-45 South. It impacts a 14-mile stretch of I-45 between U.S. 59 near downtown and Beltway 8.
People will be presented with seven different traffic configurations.
TxDOT said the project is necessary to address high crash rates, poor pavement conditions, traffic congestion, and more trucking demands.
Although this plan is technically separate from the controversial North Houston Highway Improvement Project, TxDOT said these large-scale projects are often designed and implemented in tandem.
These meetings are open to the public.
They’re being held tonight and Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tonight’s meeting will be at the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport 9100 Gulf Freeway. Thursday’s meeting will be at the Houston Texans YMCA on Griggs Road.
We know protesters are planning to attend tonight’s meeting. It looks like people are planning to fight this portion of the project as well.