Major Weekend Closure on I-69 and Daytime Ramp Delays on North Loop

Houston Traffic and Commute Update: Friday, March 6, 2026

Commuters in the Greater Houston area should prepare for significant disruptions today, particularly those traveling through Fort Bend County or utilizing the North Loop during midday hours. A major construction milestone on the Brazos River Bridge project and several planned maintenance closures will impact key arteries throughout the city and surrounding suburbs.

Major Weekend Closure: I-69 Southwest Freeway

The most substantial impact begins this evening in Sugar Land. Starting at 9:00 p.m. tonight, Friday, March 6, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will initiate a major traffic switch on I-69 (Southwest Freeway). This work is part of the ongoing $53 million Brazos River Bridge project and will remain in effect until 5:00 a.m. Monday, March 9.

• Location: Northbound and southbound mainlanes from University Blvd. to Riverbrook Dr.
• Traffic Shift: Northbound mainlanes will shift onto a newly constructed portion of the bridge. The HOV lane and one northbound mainlane will be affected by this realignment.
• Frontage Roads: While southbound frontage roads remain open, the northbound frontage road in this stretch will be closed for the duration of this phase.

Motorists are advised to expect heavy delays and should consider alternate routes such as Highway 90A or the Grand Parkway (SH-99) to bypass the construction zone.

Daytime Disruptions on IH-610 North Loop

For those traveling during the day, several exit ramps on the I-610 North Loop will undergo total closures for maintenance. These closures are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. today, specifically targeting westbound traffic:

• Irvington Blvd: The westbound exit ramp to Irvington Blvd will be closed. Drivers should detour to IH-45 Northbound and use the U-turn at the next available exit.
• N Main St & Shepherd Dr: Westbound exit ramps to both N Main St and Shepherd Dr will be closed. Detour signs will direct traffic to exit at Ella Blvd and utilize U-turns to return to the targeted intersections.

Additional Roadworks and Public Transit Alerts

Nightly maintenance continues on IH-10 East, where three alternate lanes of the eastbound frontage road from Waco St to Lockwood Dr will be closed from 9:00 p.m. tonight through Saturday morning. Additionally, the eastbound exit ramp to Lockwood Dr will be reduced to one lane during this time.

METRO Houston has also issued updates regarding the HOV/HOT network. The access and egress points for the I-45 North HOV/HOT lane at Quitman Street (to and from the I-10 Katy Freeway) remain closed until further notice due to ongoing construction. Commuters using the North Freeway should plan for alternate entry points into the downtown area. Local bus routes, including Route 102 (Bush IAH) and Route 137 (Northshore Express), continue to operate on modified detours in construction-heavy zones.

As we head into the weekend, please exercise caution, follow all posted detour signage, and allow for extra travel time if your route includes the Southwest Freeway or the North Loop.