Fat Tuesday Traffic: Heavy Delays on I-10 and I-45 as Houston Celebrates Mardi Gras

Commuter Alert: Mardi Gras and Major Construction Collide

Houston drivers should prepare for a challenging commute today, Tuesday, February 17, 2026. As the region celebrates Fat Tuesday, significant traffic increases are expected on the Gulf Freeway heading toward Galveston. Combined with ongoing multi-year reconstruction projects on I-10 and I-69, local travel times are projected to be well above average throughout the day.

Major Roadworks and Freeway Closures

The most significant impact to the morning and evening rush remains the I-10 White Oak Bayou elevation project. The following closures are active today:

• I-10 Katy Freeway: Two outside lanes are closed westbound from the I-45 interchange to Studemont Street. This long-term lane reduction for bridge demolition and elevation work is causing heavy bottlenecks for drivers entering the downtown loop from the west.
• I-10 East: The eastbound exit ramp to Wayside Drive will undergo a total closure today between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM for maintenance. Drivers should use McCarty Street as an alternate.
• I-610 South Loop: The connector ramp from the Northbound South Loop to US-290 Northwest remains closed through the morning. Travelers are detoured to Ella Boulevard to make a U-turn back to the US-290 entrance.
• I-69 Southwest Freeway: In Sugar Land, two inside lanes of I-69 Southbound are closed between University Boulevard and Riverbrook Drive. Additionally, expect three alternate lanes to be restricted between Fondren Road and the Westpark Tollway.

METRO Transit and HOV Updates

Public transport users should verify their routes as several detours are in place for Fat Tuesday and local construction projects:

• Route 066 (Quitman): The westbound detour at the intersection of Quitman and Fulton Street is scheduled to conclude late tonight.
• Route 102 (Bush IAH): Construction on John F. Kennedy Boulevard continues to cause detours for the airport express route. Riders should allow an extra 20 minutes for travel to and from George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
• HOV/HOT Lanes: The I-45 North HOV access points at Quitman Street to and from the I-10 Katy Freeway remain closed until further notice.

Mardi Gras Travel Advisory

With Mardi Gras festivities peaking today, I-45 South (Gulf Freeway) will see extremely heavy volume starting at midday as revelers head to Galveston. Major street closures are in effect on the island, particularly around the Historic Strand District and the Seawall. Law enforcement has also announced increased DWI and traffic enforcement along the Gulf Freeway corridor through Wednesday morning. Drivers are encouraged to use the Westpark Tollway or SH-288 as alternate routes for north-south travel to avoid the most congested areas near the I-45/I-10 interchange.