Drivers in Houston will face new closures and detours on I-10 near White Oak Bayou as a $410 million state project to elevate the highway, reduce flood risk, and rebuild the Houston Avenue Bridge moves forward.
Houston will experience new nightly closures and detours on I-10 near White Oak Bayou as one of the area’s most significant road projects progresses. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the restrictions began Tuesday night and will extend into Thursday morning, affecting westbound ramps, entry points, and lanes.
The update is part of the $410 million project to elevate the highway between Heights Boulevard and Interstate 45, a project designed to reduce flooding, improve drainage, and rebuild the Houston Avenue Bridge. The plan also includes connections for pedestrian and bicycle paths.
For those traveling through that stretch at night or early in the morning, the most important point is not just that the work continues, but that some frequently used accesses near downtown and White Oak Bayou are changing.
The exit ramp to Taylor Street is completely closed
Among the changes with the greatest impact is the full closure of the westbound I-10 exit ramp toward Taylor Street. The westbound I-10 entrance ramp from Louisiana Street was also closed during the same phase of construction.
According to state data, those who normally exit at Taylor Street will need to detour onto Patterson Street, make a U-turn, and re-enter the eastbound service road to reach that point. For the entrance from Louisiana Street, the alternate route goes via Franklin Street, then Travis Street, connects with north I-45, and from there returns to I-10 west.
That kind of adjustment may seem minor on the map, but during hours of heavy traffic or when several exits are closed at once, it often translates into longer travel times and quick decisions for those using the area without checking routes before leaving.
TxDOT also indicated that a new on-ramp from Taylor Street is scheduled to open Thursday morning, a move that is part of the next phase of the project.
There will be lane reductions and closure of the connector from I-45
The impacts are not limited to the ramps. Since Wednesday night, there has also been a reduction to a single alternating lane on the westbound I-10 between Heights Boulevard and North Main Street.
Additionally, the full closure of the north I-45 to Katy Freeway connector, a heavily used point for drivers crossing that area to merge onto I-10, will be implemented. Those coming from north I-45 should continue on to the connector toward Loop 610 West and from there return to I-10.
Although closures are scheduled during nighttime hours, authorities warned that some motorists may still encounter delays in the morning. The official recommendation is to follow detour signs, slow down in the construction zone, and allow extra travel time if your trip includes this stretch.
That advice is especially useful for those making daily trips to downtown, the Washington Avenue corridor, the Heights area, or areas near the I-10 and I-45 interchange.
The project aims to reduce flood risks in a stretch with a history of closures
The logic behind the project goes beyond traffic flow. The White Oak Bayou elevation project seeks to address one of the most vulnerable points on I-10 during severe storms. In that stretch, intense rainfall has caused closures, water buildup, and significant delays during extreme weather events.
TxDOT explained that the highway will be elevated to pass above the Houston Avenue bridge, instead of continuing underneath it. The bridge has a clearance of only about 14.3 feet, a height that for years has caused truck crashes and other incidents.
That combination of low clearance, inadequate drainage, and a history of flooding has made the location a recurring problem for operations. The project aims to change that structural condition, not merely perform minor repairs.
For now, two of the five westbound lanes on I-10 between I-45 and Studemont remain closed due to construction work, and according to the project schedule, they are expected to reopen in the summer of 2026.
Work on Houston Avenue will continue through 2028
The schedule also makes clear that this is a long-running intervention. Construction on the Houston Avenue portion is slated to begin in early 2027, while the entire project is estimated to be completed in 2028.
That means the current closures are part of a broader sequence of roadway adjustments in the area, not a brief isolated interruption. For many drivers, that makes it even more important to follow each update because the routes that work today could change again in later phases.
In practical terms, this update indeed warrants a new local service notice. It is not about repeating that there are construction projects on I-10, but about warning that there are new concrete closures, new alternate routes, and a new temporary configuration of access points in one of Houston’s busiest areas.
