Lighter Presidents' Day Traffic Tempered by Major I-10 Closures and METRO Changes

Holiday Traffic Overview

Houston commuters can expect a significantly lighter volume of traffic this Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of the Presidents' Day holiday. With most school districts, including Houston ISD, and government offices closed for the day, the typical morning and afternoon rush hours are anticipated to be much smoother than usual. However, several high-impact construction projects remain active, particularly around the downtown loop and the I-10 corridor, which will require attention from those still heading into the city center.

METRO and Transit Alerts

METRO Houston is operating on a modified holiday schedule today. Commuters should be aware that local bus and METRORail services are running on a Sunday or holiday frequency, which generally results in longer wait times between arrivals. Most Park & Ride routes are suspended for the day. METRO offices, including the RideStore, are also closed for the holiday. Regular service levels across all platforms are expected to resume on Tuesday morning.

Major Highway Disruptions

Despite the holiday lull, several significant roadworks projects are causing detours and lane reductions. The most notable remains the I-10 White Oak Bayou elevation project. Drivers traveling westbound on I-10 between I-45 North and Houston Avenue will encounter a persistent reduction to only two main lanes. This bottleneck is a long-term fixture of the reconstruction effort and continues to cause delays even during off-peak hours.

• I-610 North Loop: The eastbound connector ramp to the Hardy Toll Road (Spur 548) is scheduled for a total closure today from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Traffic is advised to detour via I-69 Northbound and use the U-turn at East Crosstimbers Street.
• I-10 Katy Freeway: Starting tonight at 10:00 PM, the westbound exit ramp to Heights Boulevard will be fully closed for maintenance. This nightly closure will repeat through Wednesday morning, with traffic diverted to the Patterson Street exit.
• I-610 East Loop: The eastbound connector to the I-610 East Loop southbound, which was closed throughout the weekend, is scheduled to reopen by 5:00 AM this morning, providing relief for east-side commuters.

Local Street Impact

In the Montrose area, the ongoing Montrose Boulevard Improvement Project continues to restrict traffic to one lane in each direction between West Clay Street and Allen Parkway. While holiday traffic is lower, this segment remains a frequent site of congestion for those visiting Buffalo Bayou Park. Additionally, in Sugar Land, motorists on I-69 should look out for nightly lane closures starting tonight near University Boulevard as maintenance crews begin work on the inside lanes.