TXDOT Drops "Flyover Ramp"

After months of negotiations with Bellaire city officials, attorneys and engineers, the Texas Department of Transportation has agreed not to build a 25-foot to 35-foot “fly-over” ramp from US 59 to IH 610 South, City Engineer James Andrews told the Bellaire City Council Monday.
With Mayor Phil Nauert leading several months of meetings with TXDOT officials, the state transportation agency has agreed to build the new two-lane connector ramp “at grade,” Andrews said.
Nauert, a dentist, convinced one of his patients — TXDOT District Engineer Quincy Allen — to sit down with Bellaire officials to discuss the reconstruction plans for Loop 610.
“I think he kind of had him by the teeth,” Andrews said.
The city council strenuously objected to the TXDOT plans early in 2014, and hired environmental attorney Jim Blackburn to assess the potential consequences of the fly-over ramp on the city of Bellaire.
Now, TXDOT has agreed to what is called “The Bellaire Plan” for rebuilding the highway ramp, Andrews told the council.
Andrews said that TXDOT was “pretty emphatic” that the two ramp be built with two lanes, to connect traffic on the Southwest Freeway south through the 610 Loop in Bellaire.
The transportation agency may have to acquire some additional right-of-way to keep the construction at grade level, but the two lanes coming from 59 will still be allowed to exit at Fournace St. in Bellaire.
However, the main lanes of traffic on the 610 Loop coming from the Galleria area will be required to exit at Bellaire Blvd., Andrews said. The transportation agency will build a two-lane exit for Bellaire, and a double U-turn lane for drivers who want to turn north at Bellaire, Andrews said.
Andrews credited Nauert and Blackburn, as well as City Manager Paul Hofmann, for their role in holding TXDOT’s feet to the fire.
Hofmann said the Bellaire plan “looks very doable,” although Andrews said that Blackburn will continue to work with TXDOT on drainage issues that may occur with the new construction.
Hofmann also said that once the Bellaire plan receives council approval, TXDOT will hold a community meeting with Bellaire residents to discuss the reconstruction of Loop 610. That meeting will be held, within a few months, in the Bellaire Civic Center.
Although most of the council members seemed pleased with the new developments after the negotiations with TXDOT, Councilman Pat McLaughlan said he will oppose the new plan.
“This plan is only less bad than the prior plan. It’s less bad. But it’s bad for Bellaire,” McLaughlan said. “The best thing the council can do is nothing.”
“It’s a horrible plan for the city of Bellaire. I will take every opportunity to vote against it,” McLaughlan said.