This is an ongoing article. Check back for IH-45 Construction Updates in Walker County.
May 11, 2024 Update
I-45 North Walker County Project (Segment 3)
Purpose
The I-45 North Walker County Project is Segment 3 of the larger I-45 Corridor Program, which has been created to improve safety and mobility along 90.4 miles of I-45 through Walker, Madison, Leon and Freestone counties. It helps serve as the main connection between Dallas and Houston. I-45 is also a major freight corridor and hurricane evacuation route. The I-45 North Walker County Project (Segment 3) proposes to update the roadway to current design standards, increase its capacity to accommodate future traffic volumes, and improve access for local travelers.
Proposed improvements
- Adding one main lane in each direction.
- Converting two-way frontage roads south of FM 1696 to one-way frontage roads.
- Updating the roadway to current TxDOT design standards.
- Replacing bridges and increasing vertical clearance to 19 feet.
- Improving traffic flow at interchanges (including the use of innovative intersections).
- Providing wide shoulders on frontage roads to allow for bicycle use.
Get involved
Public participation is encouraged throughout the design process and this website will be updated as opportunities are available. Public input is a highly valued and important part of creating improvements to address transportation needs. TxDOT is committed to working closely with the community to ensure that interested citizens can comment, voice concerns, and ask questions. Please contact the project team with any questions or comments by using the contact information found in the “Contact Us” box to the right.
Public meeting
In-person: Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
| Public comment deadline | Comments must be received on or before Monday, June 3, 2024, to be a part of the official public meeting record. |
|---|---|
| Meeting details | Thursday, May 16, 2024 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Walker County Storm Shelter 455 Highway 75 Huntsville, TX 77320 Attendees will be able to come and go as they please to review project displays and ask questions of TxDOT staff in an open house format. |
| Purpose | The Texas Department of Transportation – Bryan District is proposing improvements to Interstate 45 (I-45) from 2.1 miles south of FM 1696 to 0.8 miles north of FM 2989 in Walker County, Texas. The purpose of the meeting is to present the proposed project and receive public comment. |
| Description | The proposed project would update approximately 11 miles of I-45 in Walker County between Huntsville and Madisonville to current design standards, increase the roadway’s capacity to accommodate future traffic volumes, and improve access for local travelers. The improvements include adding one main lane in each direction, adding one-way frontage roads on both sides of the main lanes south of FM 1696, and replacing bridges and increasing vertical clearance to accommodate freight traffic. Although additional right-of-way would be required, no residential or non-residential structures are anticipated to be displaced at this time. Information concerning services and benefits available to affected property owners and information about the tentative schedule for right-of-way acquisition and construction can be obtained from the TxDOT Bryan District Right-of-Way Office by calling (979) 213-7591.The proposed project would involve construction in wetlands and would involve an action in a floodplain. |
| Accessibility | The public meeting will be conducted in English. If you need an interpreter or document translator because English is not your primary language or have difficulty communicating in English, one will be provided to you. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. If you need interpretation or translation services or are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to attend and participate in the public meeting, please contact, Bryan District Public Information Officer, at (979) 778-9764 no later than 4 p.m. CT, Thursday, May 9, 2024. Please be aware that advance notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time for TxDOT to arrange. |
| Meeting materials | Notice |
| How to make a comment | Comments from the public regarding the proposed project are requested and may be submitted by any of the methods listed below.EmailMail: I-45 North Walker County Project c/o HDR, Inc., 17111 Preston Road, Ste. 300, Dallas, TX 75248. All comments must be received or postmarked by Monday, June 3, 2024, to be included in the official record. |
| Memorandum of Understanding | The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this study are being, or have been, carried-out by TxDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated December 9, 2019, and executed by FHWA and TxDOT. |
March 22, 2024 Update
Huntsville, TX – Weather permitting, beginning at 8:00 PM Monday, March 25, 2024, the IH 45 Northbound Exit 115 to Avenue S will be closed. This closure is expected to last through September 2024 and reopen at the beginning of October 2024. Motorists needing to access Exit 115 will need to utilize Exit 114 during this timeframe. The closure is needed to safely construct a new retaining wall between the proposed IH 45 main lanes and the northbound frontage road. In order to implement the closure, the northbound IH 45 right lane will be closed beginning at 8:00PM on Monday, March 25, 2024, and will reopen by 5:00 AM Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
To alert drivers to the change, changeable message signs will be placed in advance of the area where this change will occur. The speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH on IH-45 main lanes throughout the limits of the project and 40 MPH and 45 MPH on the frontage roads in the detour area.
This temporary traffic pattern is part of the $200 Million reconstruction of IH-45 that involves replacing the four-lane freeway with a six-lane freeway with concrete median in southern Walker County. The project is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.
December 13, 2023 Update
IH 45 Northbound will undergo alternating lane closures between Exit 117 and Exit 118 from 8:00 PM on Saturday, December 16, 2023, to 8:00 AM on Sunday, December 17, 2023, weather permitting. The closure is to facilitate a traffic switch onto new concrete pavement. During this time, the IH 45 Northbound Entrance north of SH 30 will be closed, with a detour in place to guide motorists to IH 45 Northbound. Exit 117 will be closed for the construction of the IH 45 Northbound Frontage Road, while Exit 118 will remain open.
Changeable message signs will be placed to inform drivers of the traffic switch, and law enforcement officers will assist with the closure and guide motorists. The speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH on IH 45 main lanes and 40-45 MPH on the frontage roads. Drivers are advised to exercise caution and expect delays during the construction period.
November 8, 2023 Update
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The Texas Department of Transportation has announced a significant closure for drivers planning to travel on Interstate Highway 45 this weekend. Starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, November 10, through 5 a.m. on Sunday, November 12, 2023, the southbound lanes of IH 45 will be closed at Exit 113 in Huntsville.
This closure is to facilitate the installation of barriers on new concrete pavement by the project contractor. Once the barriers are in place, southbound traffic on IH 45 will be rerouted onto the newly laid pavement. Motorists will be directed to detour at Exit 113 during the closure period and can rejoin the interstate via the entrance ramp opposite the Toyota Dealership.
Following the traffic shift to the new pavement, Exit 112 will be shut down to allow for the ongoing construction of the remaining IH 45 southbound main lanes and the associated exit. While Exit 113 will continue to operate, the entrance ramp across from the Toyota Dealership will be closed. Travelers are advised to use the southbound entrance ramp located just south of Veteran’s Memorial Parkway instead.
In anticipation of the traffic alterations, the transportation department will set up variable message signs near the affected area to inform drivers of the changes. Speed limits have been reduced for safety: 60 MPH in the main lanes and 40-45 MPH on the frontage roads within the construction zone. Drivers are urged to proceed with caution and expect delays when traveling through the area.
The current traffic disruptions are part of an extensive $200 million overhaul of IH 45 aimed at transforming the existing four-lane freeway into a more capacious six-lane route with a concrete median barrier in the southern part of Walker County. The project is on track for completion in the first quarter of 2026.
April 25, 2023 – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced a temporary closure of IH-45 northbound and southbound main lanes in Huntsville, Walker County, to facilitate the placement of bridge caps at FM 1374. The scheduled closures will begin at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, weather permitting.
The I-45 Central Walker County Project aims to enhance freight mobility and address congestion along the I-45 corridor. The project consists of two proposed segments within the Central Walker County area that were studied by TxDOT: Segment 2A and Segment 2B.
Segment 2A is a proposed 4.4-mile-long project in the city limits of Huntsville, extending from 0.3 miles north of SH 19 to 0.9 miles north of SH 30. Segment 2B is a proposed 4.7-mile-long project in the city limits of Huntsville, extending from SH 30 to 0.7 miles south of FM 1696.
The existing I-45 facility, built in the early 1960s, is a four-lane divided controlled access freeway. Over the past 60 years, both passenger and truck traffic have increased significantly, making I-45 the primary hurricane and disaster evacuation route for the Houston and Galveston metro areas.
Segment 2A, which began in October 2021, seeks to widen I-45 from four to six lanes and includes reconstruction and realignment of main lanes and ramps, improvements to drainage structures, bridges, frontage roads, crossroads adjacent to new ramps, and interchanges. This project also adds collector-distributor roads, paralleling and connecting the main travel lanes and frontage roads.
Segment 2B, with an estimated letting of Summer 2026 and construction set to begin in Fall 2026, also aims to widen I-45 from four to six lanes. This project includes reconstruction and realignment of freeway main lanes and ramps, the creation of two new interchanges, and improvements to drainage structures, bridges, frontage roads, and crossroads adjacent to new ramps and interchanges. A raised median along SH 75 from Brookview Drive to FM 2821 will also be constructed to reduce vehicle turning conflicts.
During the temporary IH-45 lane closures, all northbound traffic will exit at EXIT 114 and continue on the frontage road, re-entering IH-45 just before SH 30. Likewise, all southbound traffic will exit at EXIT 115 and proceed on the frontage road, re-entering IH-45 south of FM 1374.
TxDOT urges drivers in Huntsville and the surrounding areas to exercise caution and patience while traveling through the affected zones during the closures. Motorists should expect delays and consider alternative routes if possible.
Stay tuned for more updates on the IH-45 construction project in Huntsville and its impact on local traffic.
January 12, 2022 – Virtual Public Hearing Pre-Recorded Presentation IH 45, Segment 2B Widening Project
Project Location
Schematic 2A
IH-45 Simulation Video
August 9, 2018, Public Hearing Presentation
