HOUSTON — Organizers are planning to make their voices heard over the I-45 expansion project.
This week, TxDOT is hosting several community meetings about segments of the project that will go through the east downtown area.
There are opponents of the expansion who gathered Sunday, but TxDOT leaders say it will improve traffic mobility and address concerns about impacted residents.
“I used to take it and still rely on I-45 on a daily basis,” said driver Valeria Alvarado.
Alvarado said the I-45 expansion could change the makeup of neighborhoods that attract weekend crowds.
“We’re right now standing in part of Eado,” Alvarado said. “There’s businesses that won’t continue because of the highway expansion.”
But TxDOT tells us each displaced resident and business owner will be handled individually with owners being compensated for properties.
Soon, a groundbreaking will be held for segment 3B-1, a drainage project in the Eado corridor. TxDOT says the project will enhance safety and mobility, while replacing aging infrastructure and helping with flooding issues.
Stephany Valdez is an organizer with a group against the project.
“With a project so big and so expensive that is going to cost so much money, Houstonians should have a voice at the table and to be heard,” she said.
But TxDOT says it is working with those affected, stating, “TxDOT efforts for those displaced by this project go above and beyond what are mandated by law and are sensitive to the unique characteristics.”
TxDOT’s website says the project is needed to address current and future traffic demands, but some still don’t believe adding lanes reduces the problem.
“Houston is a city that’s gone through major highway expansions in the past decade,” Alvarado said. “We don’t believe it’s helped at all.”
TxDOT says there are benefits, such as billions in economic impact, reduced travel times and much more.