Houston’s $11 Billion I-45 Reconstruction Project Continues to Raise in Price

Phase 1 is already expected to exceed budget, so what's going to happen to the rest of the project as TxDOT continues with construction?

The Original Plan

Way back in '03, TxDOT laid out plans to expand I-45 from Beltway 8 through downtown Houston. The project was originally meant to be complete in 2037, but that date has been changed to 2042 in order to accommodate the finishing touches to Beltway 8.

They split the massive project into three segments, each containing a higher price tag than the last.

Segment one was originally budgeted for $907 million from Loop 610 to Beltway 8. Segment two was projected at $1.6 billion from I-10 to Loop 610. Finally, segment three rounded out the project with a price tag of an expected $5.7 billion from I-10 to I-69, among other roadways.

The project would add more lanes and a faster commute through Houston for cars, bicyclists and pedestrians.

TxDOT provided an estimate on the milestones they hope to reach by 2042.

What's that? Oh, you noticed the "PAUSED" portion of the timeline? Well, that leads me to my other point...

I-45 Project Obstacles

The project requires a very large displacement process as over 1,400 homes and businesses are meant to be relocated.

Also, in 2021, Harris County filed a lawsuit that paused the project over environmental and civil impacts. The project was accused of displacing "hundreds located in underserved communities."

The massive reconstruction process was allowed to proceed after TxDOT agreed to the following:

• Host public meetings twice a year and meet monthly to discuss commitments
• Evaluate ways to reduce the project's footprint
• Develop a community access plan to allow people to access essential services
• Add adequate drainage
• Mitigate harmful air quality
• Build bridges to allow access to city amenities surrounding I-45

A local advocacy group, Stop TxDOT I-45, recently sent a cease and desist letter to TxDOT claiming their project is intentionally avoiding certain environmental requirements with drainage.

Despite this pushback, TxDOT still aims to move forward, claiming the violations they are accused of committing do not apply to the project itself.