TxDOT is close to completing the I-69 Eastex southbound main lanes bridge over the San Jacinto River.
To facilitate the opening of the new bridge to traffic, crews will need to close the following to return the roadway to its original configuration:
- I-69 Eastex southbound main lanes between FM 1314 to FM 1960, multiple main lanes closed continuously beginning Friday, June 22 at 9 p.m. through Monday, June 25 at 5 a.m. At least one lane will remain open.
- I-69 Eastex southbound exit ramp to Sorters McClellan Road/Townsen total closure continuously beginning Friday, June 22 at 9 p.m. through Saturday, June 23 at 6 p.m. Detour southbound on the main lanes to the exit ramp to Will Clayton, continue on the southbound frontage road, U-turn at FM 1960 to the northbound frontage road, and continue on the northbound frontage road to reach Townsen or Sorters McClellan.
- I-69 Eastex southbound entrance ramp from Sorters McClellan Road total closure continuously beginning Friday, June 22 at 9 p.m. through Saturday, June 23 at 6 p.m. Detour southbound on the frontage road to the entrance ramp from Townsen to reach the main lanes of I-69 southbound.
During Hurricane Harvey, the main channel of the San Jacinto River shifted, impacting the I-69 southbound main lanes bridge over the river. As a result, the depth and alignment of the river changed, affecting the foundation of the bridge. The bridge was reconstructed to overcome future shifts and to restore the load-carrying capacity on the bridge.
The project was expected to take six months to complete but the contractor, Webber LLC Construction, worked feverishly to get it done sooner.