This weekend, drivers in downtown Houston face a network of road closures. Two major ramps near downtown Houston are shut down, which will slow travel through and across the city. At the same time, I-45 is fully closed from the South Loop to Woodridge, with two lanes taken out entirely.
Friday evening marks the start, and Monday morning ends it, with various detours and alternate routes offered depending on your destination.
The SH 288 Ramp Closure
A closure runs Saturday and Sunday on the SH 288 ramp going northbound to US-59 southbound, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Drivers accustomed to using that route will need to look for an alternate path.
A driver who wants to take a detour should stay on I-45 going south, then get off at exit 44C and turn left onto Cullen, following the signs for U.S. 59. The route is simple, but it does add a little time to the journey.
I-45 Ramps to I-10 Near The Heights
Downtown’s other side brings evening and overnight road closures near The Heights. Saturday and Sunday nights see the I-45 northbound and southbound ramps to I-10 westbound shut down from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., including the I-10 westbound exit to Taylor.
When heading west on I-10 from I-45, keep in mind the restricted hours. A detour has not been posted for this closure, so steering clear of that stretch during the late-night window is your best bet.
I-45 Mainline Closure Between South Loop and Woodridge
Between Friday at 8 p.m. and Monday at 5 a.m., I-45 is shutting down two northbound mainlanes from the South Loop to Woodridge. On Saturday, one southbound mainlane closes alongside the exit to the South Loop, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Those traveling by car in the northbound direction between the two locations should anticipate reduced velocities and extended durations for their journey.
Saturday’s southbound closure covers less ground than the earlier shutdown, but it still matters because it closes off the exit to the South Loop during a period of heavy traffic.
Construction at East Sam Houston Tollway and SH 225
The East Sam Houston Tollway and SH 225 interchange is still under construction this weekend. Saturday will see the Tollway’s southbound mainlanes and the exit to SH 225 shut down from 5 a.m. until Sunday at 11 p.m. Meanwhile, the northbound direction has a nightly closure of its mainlanes and SH 225 exit, running from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., through Sept. 19.
Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena Boulevard, and Spencer Highway appear as alternate routes. Those who usually take that interchange should expect a longer trip and heavier traffic on the detours.
Hardy Toll Lane Closures
This weekend, two lanes of the southbound Hardy Toll will be closed for maintenance between Richey Road and Airtex. The closure runs from Friday at 10 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m.
That corridor will be slow for drivers, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours.
What Drivers Should Know
The shutdowns cover large areas and run together in time, so several closures will happen at once during the worst periods. The main stretch of I-45 closes between the South Loop and Woodridge from Friday evening until Monday morning.
Saturday and Sunday bring two ramp closings: the SH 288 ramp shuts down along with the I-45 ramps heading to I-10, which close overnight. Construction at the Tollway and SH 225 carries on through Sept. 19, with nightly closures confined to the northbound direction.
Here is a quick rundown of the key windows:
- SH 288 ramp: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
- I-45 ramps to I-10: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
- I-45 northbound mainline: Friday at 8 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m.
- I-45 southbound mainline: Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- East Sam Houston Tollway: Saturday 5 a.m. to Sunday 11 p.m., nightly northbound from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. through Sept. 19
- Hardy Toll: Friday at 10 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m.
Planning Ahead
In practice, the layered detours grow complicated even though their idea remains plain. During the SH 288 ramp closure window, drivers take the SH 288 detour onto I-45 southbound, a route that stays open despite the surrounding closures.
It pays to know what’s happening on the roads before you set off, since real-time updates reveal exactly where the congestion is building. Some closures run overnight, which means rearranging your schedule could make a big difference.
When Saturday or Sunday keeps you confined to the city, the detours become your best option. Expect them to run longer than the regular route, and to carry more traffic than usual.
Several of the closures will close at Monday at 5 a.m., which means people with a Monday morning commute need to plan ahead.
For everyone else, the message is simple: expect slower travel times, plan ahead, and follow the detours carefully. The roadwork will be done eventually, but it will not be done until Monday at 5 a.m.