Major Closures at I-610 West Loop and I-45 Gulf Lead Weekend Traffic Delays

Significant Weekend Closures on I-610 and I-45 Challenge Saturday Commuters

Good morning, Houston. While the forecast for today, Saturday, February 7, 2026, promises clear skies and pleasant temperatures in the mid-70s, the traffic landscape tells a different story. Several major construction projects have reached critical milestones this weekend, triggering total closures and significant lane reductions across the city's busiest arteries. Commuters should prepare for a slow start as TxDOT crews work through several high-impact projects.

The Big One: I-610 West Loop at I-69 Southwest Freeway

The most significant impact today is the total closure of both the northbound and southbound main lanes of the I-610 West Loop at the I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange. This closure, which began late Friday, is scheduled to continue through Monday morning. This is a vital phase of the multi-year interchange reconstruction project, and drivers are strongly advised to avoid this area if possible.

• Northbound Detour: Traffic is being diverted onto the I-610 West Loop frontage road at Westpark Drive to re-enter the main lanes past the interchange.
• Southbound Detour: Drivers are being directed onto I-69 southbound, where they must exit at Chimney Rock, perform a U-turn, and use the direct connector from I-69 northbound to return to I-610 southbound.

I-45 Gulf Freeway and I-10 Construction

Travelers on the south side and near the downtown area will also face hurdles. On the I-45 Gulf Freeway, two outside lanes remain closed northbound from Broadway Street to Woodridge Drive through Monday at 5:00 a.m. Additionally, the northbound connector ramp to the I-610 South Loop is completely shut down. Drivers can navigate this by utilizing the U-turn at Telephone Road to merge back into the flow toward Pasadena.

Near the downtown core, the I-10 White Oak Bayou elevation project continues to limit capacity. Expect heavy congestion on the I-10 Katy Freeway westbound between I-45 and Studemont Street. This project, aimed at elevating the roadway to prevent flooding, currently requires the closure of two outside lanes. This reduction is expected to cause significant bottlenecks throughout the afternoon and evening.

Public Transit and METRO Alerts

METRO Houston has reported several detours affecting local bus service due to street-level construction and ongoing infrastructure improvements. Riders should check their schedules for the following routes:

• Route 40 (Telephone/Heights): Northbound buses are currently detoured at Yale Street due to roadwork.
• Route 41 (Kirby/Polk): Detours are in effect at the intersections of Emancipation at Polk and Kirby at Holcombe Boulevard.
• Route 77 (Homestead): A long-term detour remains active on Cheeves at Annunciation.
• HOV/HOT Lanes: Access points for the I-45 North HOV lane at Quitman Street to and from the I-10 Katy Freeway remain closed until further notice.

Commuters are encouraged to use real-time navigation tools and allow at least an extra 30 minutes of travel time if crossing the West Loop or Gulf Freeway corridors today. Stay safe and watch for workers in active construction zones.