Elevated lanes coming to Loop 610, eventually

Loop 610, especially between Interstate 290 and U.S. 59 west of downtown Houston, is one of the region's busiest interstates. Loop 610, especially between Interstate 290 and U.S. 59 west of downtown Houston, is one of the region's busiest interstates. Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Elevated lanes coming to Loop 610, eventually 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

State transportation officials are about to raise expectations for improving Loop 610, or at the very least raise the traffic.

Planners on Dec. 10 are scheduled to detail plans for elevated managed lanes along Loop 610, from north of Interstate 10 to U.S. 59. Long constrained by the development and parkland along the freeway, the Texas Department of Transportation project aims to put elevated lanes in the middle of the freeway, within the existing right of way, for 3.7 miles.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane.

The western segment of Loop 610 is the most congested freeway segment in the region, and just recently lost its spot as the state’s most crowded road segment. Researchers with the Texas A&M University Transportation Institute estimate that 971,000 hours are wasted cumulatively by drivers stuck in West Loop traffic, costing $72.7 million in wasted fuel and time loss.

Relieving traffic, especially where drivers enter and exit in the bustling Uptown area and merge to and from U.S. 59, is a huge priority for regional transportation officials.

Drivers, meanwhile, said they’d welcome anything that offers a faster trip.

“Anything over what’s there now would be an improvement,” said Jason Weiss, 29, who drives the Loop to work daily.

Relief, however, will be years in coming. Construction of the lanes, expected to cost $250 million, isn’t expected to start for at least two years. Funding would likely come from tolling the lanes.

The elevated lanes are different from plans for bus-only lanes connecting Post Oak to the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Northwest Transit Center, TxDOT spokeswoman Raquelle Lewis said.

“There are some areas where they would be in the same (right of way) but they are still independent projects,” Lewis said.