The work is being managed jointly by TxDOT in partnership with the city of Houston, Harris County and the Harris County Flood Control District. According to TxDOT, the I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) is designed to expand roadway capacity, reduce congestion, improve safety, and enhance mobility along I-45 from I-69 to Beltway 8 North. It also includes rebuilding downtown Houston’s freeway system, which covers I-45, I-69, I-10, and SH 288. A key element is rerouting I-45 to run parallel with I-69 and I-10 through downtown Houston.
The work will take until 2042 to complete. TxDot also says that the I-45 NHHIP will address current population growth and also lays a foundation for the region’s sustainable development. The project targets congestion relief, improves evacuation routes, and promotes multimodal transportation options.
TxDOT says that the first phase, Segment 3B-1, will focus on stormwater management with the installation of box culverts to direct stormwater to detention ponds, enhancing flood resiliency. St Emanuel Street will serve as a feeder road for this portion of I-45. This phase, expected to be completed by 2027, has a budget of $121 million. Following this, Segment 3B-2, set to begin in January 2025 and expected to be completed by 2030, will focus on constructing new mainlanes, frontage roads, and enhanced bike and pedestrian infrastructure on I-69 between SH 288 and I-45. The estimated cost for Segment 3B-2 is $695.5 million.
