HOUSTON, Texas — Beginning October 24, a major stretch of westbound I-10 Katy Freeway from I-45 North Freeway to Houston Avenue will be reduced to just two lanes and remain that way until mid-2026, due to construction under the $407 million I-10 White Oak Bayou Elevation Project, aimed at reducing flood risks in the area.

According to TxDOT, this long-term lane reduction is necessary to complete the elevated westbound mainlanes that will overlap the existing ones. Currently, the freeway is already down to three lanes from I-45 to Studemont Street. The new closure will further constrain traffic, with potential impacts for daily commuters and freight carriers in the Houston area.

As part of the elevation project, the Houston Avenue Bridge, known for repeated collisions with oversized vehicles, will be relocated beneath the newly elevated freeway. While that demolition won’t occur until early 2027, the urgency of the lane closures stems in part from the 70 strike incidents on the bridge so far this year — including the latest on Sunday, when a semi-truck failed to clear the 14-foot, 3-inch height.

TxDOT spokesperson Kristina Hadley emphasized the danger posed by non-compliant vehicles: “Unfortunately, many semi-trucks and oversized loads are either operating without the necessary permits… or are deliberately ignoring those routes in favor of shortcuts.”

The I-10 White Oak Bayou section has flooded at least 10 times since 1992, most notably during Tropical Storm Allison (2001), Hurricane Harvey (2017), and Tropical Storm Imelda (2019). The elevation project is a response to repeated inundations and growing infrastructure strain in the region.

Additional Detours and Closures:

• The I-45 Southbound (Gulf Freeway) direct connector to I-10 Westbound will remain fully closed until mid-2026.

• The I-10 Eastbound (Baytown-East Freeway) connector to I-45 Northbound is expected to remain closed until mid-2028.

Lane closures, bridge demolitions, and major connector reroutes are all part of TxDOT’s larger plan to modernize the area’s infrastructure and mitigate damage from future flooding, according to Houston Public Media.