I have talked to many constituents and heard your concerns about tearing down the Southmore Blvd. Bridge, and the major highway construction in District 147. I share your concerns as I live here too, and take the Southmore Blvd. Bridge to and from work everyday. The temporary unavailability of the bridge will be a major headache for all of us but, rest assured the the Southmore Blvd. Bridge over highway 288 will be REBUILT and be completed in 2019. Like you I recently found out about the tearing down and rebuilding of the Southmore Blvd. Bridge in a meeting I had last month with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT).

There currently two separate projects affecting our district: the Drive288 project and the I-45 Northbound Direct Connector project. The Drive 288 project which is affecting the Southmore Blvd. Bridge, "is projected to be complete by the second quarter of 2019." The I-45 Northbound Direct Connector project which is affecting traffic near the University of Houston is "scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2019." I will continue to be in contact with TxDoT to try to minimize the negative impact these projects are having on us.

There is also another project in the developmental stage, called the North Houston Highway Improvement project. Despite the name it will have a major impact on the highways around us. This future project is not projected to break ground until 2020.

I will continue to monitor all these projects that are affecting us in District 147 and keep you informed of changes when they happen. As always please feel free to contact my office if you have any question or concerns. Below are links to additional information on these projects.

For more information on the Drive288 project please click here to view its website: Drive288.com.

To recieve traffic and construction alerts on the Drive288 project, please click here to sign up.

You can also get information about the Drive288 project by calling its information hotline at 888-328-8622.

For more information on the North Houston Highway Improvement project, please visit TxDoT's website dedicated to the project at: ih45northandmore.com.

For a PowerPoint presentation created by TxDoT with information and visuals of the North Houston Highway Improvement project, please click here: TxDoT PowerPoint.