PHOTOS: Traffic Slows As TxDOT Starts Work On I-45 Connector Ramp

Houston drivers are still getting used to a big change on I-45 northbound, now that TxDOT has permanently closed the connector ramp to southbound I-69 and State Highway 288.

TxDOT spokeswoman Deidrea George said delays during the Monday morning commute were predictable, as drivers will need a few days to get used to the detours.

"Our area office will certainly be assessing traffic management, seeing what the flow of traffic will be,” George said. "In the first week or so we do anticipate there will be some hiccups as people are, believe it or not, just finding out about the closure.”

Considering it will take about five months to build the new ramp, George said they'll be carefully watching how drivers handle the situation.

"Some of them will go the route that we have advertised and others will use alternate routes," she said. "So we do anticipate that after about the first week of getting to know the closure, getting to know what exactly is closed, that they will find other alternate routes."

TxDOT's official detour takes drivers northbound on I-45 to I-10 East, where drivers then connect with I-69 southbound. Some drivers are using the 610 South Loop as an alternative route, but George warns there are some ramp closures in connection with State Highway 288 toll project.

Crews started tearing down the connector ramp from I-45 northbound to I-69/SH 288 southbound as soon as they closed it late Friday evening. The $30 million project will relocate the ramp from the left hand side of northbound I-45 to the right, with the aim of eliminating lane weaving that contributes to crashes.

Work continues on demolishing the I-45 Gulf NB connector ramp to I-69/ SH 288 SB. Here are some photos of the work done so far. pic.twitter.com/iDXcVOJbKC

— TxDOT- HOU District (@TxDOTHouston) January 27, 2019

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