Repairs to Houston Heights’ MKT Trail Hogan pedestrian bridge face another delay, extending key trail closure

A vital connector on the White Oak Bayou Greenway remains closed

A heavily used pedestrian and bicycle bridge on Houston’s MKT Trail near Hogan Street—commonly used to connect the Heights, First Ward and downtown—remains closed as repair work continues to slip beyond earlier targets. The bridge carries trail users over White Oak Bayou and forms part of the White Oak Bayou Greenway network that supports recreation and commuting outside of vehicle lanes.

City project information posted during the rehabilitation phase set a construction start date of Sept. 22, 2025, with a 90-day schedule and a targeted reopening by the end of December 2025, contingent on weather. With that date now passed, the closure has continued into early 2026, marking another delay for trail users who have already navigated months of detours and partial access changes.

How the bridge was damaged and why the closure expanded

The bridge was closed in early 2025 after officials determined it had severe structural damage. The closure followed winter weather and high water conditions in late January 2025, when construction materials associated with freeway work along Interstate 10 were swept downstream and struck bridge elements. As a safety measure, access was cut off while damage assessments and planning moved forward.

In February 2025, the city reported that partial demolition of damaged portions had been completed, allowing some areas beneath the structure to reopen while longer-term rehabilitation planning proceeded. In July 2025, City Council approved a contractor to move ahead with emergency repairs, and full construction was then scheduled to begin in late September 2025.

What remains closed and what detours are available

During the rehabilitation period, the bridge and the trails directly beneath it have been closed for the duration of construction. Trail users moving between the Heights and downtown have been directed to detours using surface streets and crossings near Hogg Park, Henry Street and North Main Street, including routing through the University of Houston-Downtown area to reconnect with the greenway.

• Primary impact: interruption of a continuous off-street trail route over White Oak Bayou.
• Typical workaround: signed detours that shift cyclists and pedestrians onto streets and campus-adjacent routes.
• Transit alternative: METRORail’s Red Line along North Main Street allows bicycles and runs frequent service on weekdays and weekends.

Broader construction context near I-10

The bridge closure has unfolded alongside major I-10 work near the Heights as state transportation crews advance a large reconstruction effort intended to address flooding risk along the corridor and modernize aging infrastructure. In the same area, recurring construction staging and stormwater conditions have created periodic safety and access complications for non-vehicular routes that run parallel to the freeway.

What changes next will depend on the pace of rehabilitation work and the city’s updated construction milestones, which have not yet been matched by an on-the-ground reopening of the bridge.