Bellaire Mayor Phil Nauert plans to meet with representatives of the Texas Department of Transportation on Thursday afternoon about its proposed construction of a new “flyover” ramp at IH 610 and U.S. 59 in the city.
“There is a real need to talk to them about their plans. It’s important,” Nauert said.
The transportation agency has an ambitious plan to build a new30-foot high ramp as part of its reconstruction of the West Loop in Bellaire. Traffic accidents have been a recurring problem on the Loop, where drivers are exiting to the Southwest Freeway.
Nauert and other city officials expressed concerns about the proposed reconstruction late last year, when City Engineer James Andrews outlined TXDOT’s proposed project.
Nauert said he plans to communicate with other city officials and council members by email, after his meeting with TXDOT. The council’s next regular session will take place on January 27, because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday, January 20.
TXDOT plans to rebuild the 1H 610 Loop in several stages, but the first part of the state agency’s $160 million plan is the new interchange at one of the state’s worst bottlenecks. The first phase of the proposed construction project would go from US 59 northbound to IH 610 southbound.
If anyone can get them to change this, it is Mayor Nauert.
Robert Riquelmy says
Perhaps our dogged mayor can force tx dot to complete the sidewalks along 610. That pedestrians must walk in the street is a scandal!