TxDOT I-10 elevation project in Heights, Houston, Texas
The $347 million project would increase the I-10 foremost lanes between I-45 and Heights Boulevard in an effort to get rid of flooding danger on the freeway.
HOUSTON — A Texas Department of Transportation plan to raise I-10 close to White Oak Bayou is fueling rising considerations amongst neighbors who mentioned the plan for the next freeway will trigger even larger noises and drainage issues.
“When you do one thing, you impact everything,” President of the Woodlands Heights Civic Association Alaina Hebert mentioned.
Hebert and different Heights-area owners are bracing for the affect as TxDOT unveiled its plan to make main modifications to I-10 between Heights Boulevard and I-45. Hebert mentioned the $347 million plan was first dropped at neighbors’ consideration on July 26.
“It’s a quality of life issue,” Hebert mentioned. “People will leave our neighborhood, for sure.”
Neighbors informed KHOU 11 News the key project caught them fully off guard. Changes can be vital. I-10 between Taylor Street and I-45 can be raised to roughly the identical top because the elevated HOV lane that goes into downtown Houston.
“Can you say that construction will not impact flooding in our neighborhood while it’s going on? I don’t believe that for a second,” Hebert mentioned.
TxDOT mentioned the project is aimed toward stopping flooding alongside a stretch of I-10 that was underwater throughout Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storms Imelda and Allison.
“I think it was four hours that I-10 was impassable,” Hebert mentioned.
Hebert mentioned the project is an answer for an issue that is probably not an issue. If something, they concern it should make current points worse.
“At night you can hear I-10 … sounds like a raceway, people going outrageous speeds,” Hebert mentioned. “Now it plans to elevate 30 feet in the air, now that sound I don’t even know what it is going to do. Double the echo.”
Neighbors additionally wish to be taught extra about what affect and long-term modifications this freeway carry could have on the favored trails and inexperienced space alongside the bayou and I-10.
“If it’s happening, we want to be at the table,” Hebert mentioned. “Hopefully, they will listen to us and work with us.”
TxDOT will conduct an environmental affect evaluation in 2023. If that goes properly, building is about to start in the summer season of 2024. For now, the general public can nonetheless chime in on the project via Sept. 9.
