Heavy Rodeo Crowds and Major Weekend Closures on I-10 and I-45

Saturday Traffic Outlook: Rodeo Season in Full Swing

Houston commuters and residents should prepare for a busy Saturday, March 7, 2026, as the first weekend of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings significant traffic to the NRG Park area. Today’s featured performer is Dwight Yoakam, with the weekend rodeo starting at 2:45 p.m. Gates at NRG Stadium open at 2:00 p.m., so expect heavy congestion on Kirby Drive, Fannin Street, and the South Loop 610 starting as early as noon. Drivers not heading to the event are advised to use alternate north-south routes like SH-288 or the West Loop to avoid the NRG bottleneck.

Major Freeway Construction and Closures

Several major infrastructure projects will impact travel across the metropolitan area this weekend. Key closures include:

• I-10 Katy Freeway: Westbound lanes near the city center are seeing significant delays due to the I-10 White Oak Bayou elevation project. Two outside lanes are closed from I-45 to Studemont Street for the demolition of the old Studemont Street bridge. This is a long-term reduction; motorists should expect slow-moving traffic throughout the day.
• I-45 Northbound to I-610 South Loop: The connector ramp from I-45 Northbound to I-610 South Loop Westbound is under a total closure until 9:00 p.m. Sunday. Commuters should detour via SH-288 to reach the South Loop.
• I-69 Southwest Freeway: While a major closure at the Brazos River Bridge in Sugar Land was originally slated for this weekend, officials have postponed that specific work until next weekend (March 13) due to weather. However, the I-69 Northbound entrance ramp from Chimney Rock Road remains closed continuously through next Friday.
• Downtown Resurfacing: In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, crews are currently resurfacing over 80 blocks in the city center. Expect rolling block-by-block closures and "grinding" operations that may cause uneven surfaces and sudden detours.

Public Transit and Event Detours

METRO Houston has implemented several detours today to accommodate local events. The Bayou City Classic 10K & 5K is taking place this morning, affecting Route 44 (Acres Homes) and surrounding streets near Rusk, Milam, and Smith until approximately 12:30 p.m. Additionally, Route 41 (Kirby/Polk) remains on detour through tonight for events at the Toyota Center.

For those attending the Rodeo, METRO reminds passengers that new service changes effective as of February 22 have increased weekend frequency on several local lines, making the METRORail a highly efficient option to reach NRG Park without dealing with stadium parking.