Houston Avenue bridge repair will tie up I-10 traffic

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Get ready for another big traffic tie-up this weekend on the eastbound Katy Freeway near downtown.

All eastbound main lanes of Interstate 10 between Studemont and Interstate 45 will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday as crews repair the Houston Avenue bridge.

The bridge was damaged June 1 by a freight truck that was too tall to fit under it, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

Drivers should expect delays and are advised to avoid the area if possible.

All eastbound through-traffic will be detoured to the Interstate 610 West Loop northbound to Interstate 45. Drivers should go south on Interstate 45 to access I-10 east of downtown, TxDOT says.

Other closures include:

Multiple eastbound lanes on the Katy Freeway between Antoine and Studemont, as well as the affected entrance ramps.

The 610 West Loop southbound connector ramp to eastbound I-10, from 8:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Drivers can continue southbound on the West Loop to northbound U.S. 59 to reach eastbound I-10.

Houston Avenue in both directions over I-10. For southbound drivers, the detour is: Left on White Oak/Quitman, right on North Main, right on Hogan/Crockett to Houston Avenue. The northbound detour is: Right on Crockett/Hogan, left on North Main, left on Quitman/White Oak to Houston Avenue.

According to TxDOT data from the past four years, an average of one bridge per month in Texas is hit by a vehicle that is too tall for the posted clearance, according to a department news release.

Those incidents are increasing, with 20 in 2011 and more than 10 already this year, the release said. Repair costs average about $185,000 per occurrence.

carol.christian@chron.com

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