Houston and Galveston County drivers face a busy weekend of road closures, and METRO riders will find the Red Line out of service entirely. Multiple lane and ramp closures are scheduled on major Houston and Galveston County roadways, while METRORail suspends Red Line service for maintenance.
The work starts late Friday night and runs into early Monday morning in some cases. Drivers who can avoid these routes will want to plan ahead.
I-10 Closures
Three outside westbound lanes of I-10 will close from Beltway-8 to Freeport. The closure runs from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28.
Two outside eastbound lanes of I-10 will also close. That stretch runs from Wayside to Gellhorn Drive, with the same start and end times.
I-45 Gulf Downtown
The I-45 Gulf northbound ramp to US-59 will close during overnight hours this weekend. The closure runs from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., with no specified days given.
US-59 Downtown
One inside southbound lane of US-59 will close from Elgin to Almeda. The lane closure runs from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28.
Crews continue work on the Alabama Street bridge during this time. Drivers should expect congestion through the downtown interchanges.
METRORail Red Line Shutdown
The MetroRail Red Line will not have service Saturday, Sept. 26, or Sunday, Sept. 27. The shutdown covers the route between the Downtown Transit Center and Fannin Park & Ride.
Instead, METRO will run shuttles every 10 minutes to cover the gap.
Galveston County Road Closures
All FM-646 at SH-146 mainlanes will be closed from 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.
What Drivers Need to Know
The closures overlap across multiple roads and last through most of the weekend. I-10, I-45, and US-59 all carry heavy weekday traffic, and losing lanes at these hours means backups will form quickly.
The Red Line shutdown removes a key transit option for people heading into or out of downtown Houston. The shuttle service replaces it.
Drivers who live near these corridors should check traffic apps before leaving home.
Key Dates and Times
- I-10 westbound: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28
- I-10 eastbound: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28
- I-45 Gulf ramp: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. (overnight hours this weekend)
- US-59: 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 28
- Red Line shutdown: Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27
- Galveston County roads: 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26
What to Avoid
- I-10 westbound from Beltway-8 to Freeport
- I-10 eastbound from Wayside to Gellhorn Drive
- I-45 Gulf northbound ramp to US-59
- US-59 southbound from Elgin to Almeda
- FM-646 at SH-146 mainlanes in Galveston County
The Alabama Street bridge work on US-59 adds another layer of trouble. Congestion through the downtown interchanges is expected.
Planning Ahead
Drivers who can shift their trips to weekdays should do so. The closures are scheduled for Friday evening through Monday morning, which covers most of the weekend travel window.
For METRO riders, the shuttle service is a backup. Riders heading to or from downtown should plan for extra time.
The closures will slow down anyone caught in them, and the Red Line shutdown removes a transit option for a full two days.
Final Word
This is a weekend of disruption for Houston and Galveston County travelers. The road closures and the Red Line shutdown are scheduled, and there is nothing anyone can do to change them.
The best move is to avoid these roads if possible. Check traffic apps, leave early, and plan for delays. The work will get done, but getting through it will require patience.
The maintenance is planned, and the inconvenience is real. It will affect people trying to get to work, run errands, or visit family over the weekend.
Plan accordingly.
Source material: “Houston and Galveston Co. drivers to see freeway closures, METRORail Red Line shutdown this weekend,” ABC13 Houston.
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