Major Weekend Closures on I-610 and Alabama Street Bridge Demolition to Impact Houston Commuters

Weekend Construction Kick-Off and Major Ramp Closures

Houston commuters should prepare for significant disruptions starting this evening, Friday, February 6, 2026, as several major construction projects launch intensive weekend phases. The most significant impact will occur at the I-610 South Loop and I-45 Gulf Freeway interchange. Starting at 9:00 PM tonight, the westbound connector ramp from the I-610 South Loop to I-45 Northbound will be completely closed. This closure is scheduled to remain in place until 5:00 AM on Monday, February 9. Drivers are advised to detour by making a U-turn at Telephone Road to access I-45.

Simultaneously, the northbound connector ramp from I-45 to the I-610 South Loop will also face a total closure beginning at 9:00 PM tonight. These coordinated closures are part of ongoing regional infrastructure improvements and are expected to cause heavy congestion throughout the weekend.

Downtown Alabama Street Bridge Demolition

Downtown travelers and those near the Third Ward will face major hurdles as TxDOT begins the demolition of the Alabama Street bridge over I-69. The work is scheduled to run from today, February 6, through Monday, February 9. Currently, the westbound inside lane of Alabama Street is closed between Chenevert Street and Almeda Road to allow crews to stage heavy equipment. Commuters should expect full bridge closures and significant traffic shifts as this milestone in the I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project advances. Detours will be in place, but motorists are encouraged to use Elgin or Wheeler as alternate routes.

Daytime and Ongoing Constraints

For those on the roads during the midday period, the I-610 North Loop will experience daily ramp closures through 3:00 PM today. The eastbound exit ramps to both Durham Drive and Ella Boulevard are scheduled for total closures. Traffic for Durham should exit at Yale Street and use the U-turn, while Ella Boulevard traffic should exit at Durham and use the U-turn.

On the I-10 Katy Freeway, lane reductions continue near the White Oak Bayou elevation project. Drivers should expect two outside lanes to remain closed westbound from the I-45 interchange to Studemont Street. Additionally, the SH-249 Tomball Parkway continues to see inside lane closures in both directions between FM-1960 and Perry Road due to long-term construction.

METRO Transit and Public Transport Alerts

METRO Houston has issued several service alerts due to ongoing roadwork. Route 40 (Telephone/Heights) and Route 5 (Southmore) remain on detour due to street closures. Furthermore, the I-45 North HOV/HOT lane access and egress points at Quitman Street to and from the I-10 Katy Freeway are closed until further notice. METRO passengers are advised to check the RideMETRO app for real-time frequency updates, especially as temperatures are forecast to drop sharply this evening ahead of a weekend freeze watch.