Houston Police Department

February 24, 2006 -- The Houston Police Department wants to remind motorists to expect traffic delays this weekend in the vicinity of the I-10 West /610 West Loop interchange due to multiple lane closures. These closures, part of the ongoing reconstruction of the I-10/610 interchange, mark the beginning of a very aggressive schedule of weekend closures in the vicinity of the I-10/610 interchange that will continue through the summer months.

Texas Department of Transportation officials have notified HPD that starting today (Friday, February 24) at 9 p.m., and continuing through 6 p.m. Saturday, February 25, a contractor will close the following areas:

* 610/West Loop northbound direct connector ramps to I-10/Katy Freeway eastbound and westbound.

Motorists should detour to 610 northbound, exit at 18th Street and U-turn to access 610 southbound to get to I-10 eastbound or westbound.

*I-10/Katy Freeway eastbound direct connector ramps to 610/West Loop northbound and southbound. Ramps will reopen at noon Sunday, February 26. Detour via I-10 eastbound to Washington Avenue and U-turn to I-10 westbound to access 610 northbound and southbound.

*Two lanes of 610 northbound from Woodway to I-10

*The 610/West Loop northbound exit ramp to Memorial Drive will be closed effective 9 p.m. Friday, February 24, and remain closed until May 2006. This closure will result in the San Felipe exit ramp being the last northbound exit from 610/West Loop south of I-10/Katy Freeway.

*The intersection of Memorial Drive at 610/West Loop. Eastbound Memoria
Drive traffic will be detoured to the southbound frontage road and directed to the U-turn at Woodway. Westbound Memorial traffic will be detoured to Woodway in Memorial Park to North Post Oak Blvd. to get back to Memorial.

Detailed maps illustrating detour options can be accessed at https://www.katyfreeway.org or by calling TXDOT at 281-589-5924

Houston Police Department officials have been meeting regularly with TXDOT officials as part of Mayor Bill White's mandate to increase mobility and minimize the impact that freeway construction projects have on motorists. "We want to encourage drivers to, if possible, avoid the area entirely by using alternate routes," said Executive Assistant Chief Martha Montalvo. "HPD will also place officers on extra duty at strategic locations along the freeway service roads to assist with the flow of traffic for those motorists in the area," Chief Montalvo added.

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.