I-10
Sept. 8, 2022
By Adam Paul Susaneck
Graphics by Jeremy Ashkenas, Quoctrung Bui and Sara Chodosh
Adam Paul Susaneck is an architectural designer and the founder of Segregation by Design. He uses historical data and archival photography to document the consequences of redlining, urban renewal and urban highway planning.
Houston Chronicle publishes: “Texas freeway foes band together against TxDOT, calling plans to widen highways 'insane'“ - https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/Freeway-foes-across-the-state-band-together-17416345.php
“Among the projects drawing alarm:
Houston’s $9.7 billion-plus project to widen I-45 from downtown Houston north to Beltway 8, which will add two managed lanes in each direction and rebuild the downtown freeway system and the obsolete interchange with Loop 610.
Austin’s $4.9 billion rebuild of I-35 through the heart of the capital, which would replace the clogged two-tier freeway with a single buried road that adds two carpool lanes in each direction. Opponents have said this will divide the city further.
El Paso’s planned widening of I-10 through the downtown area, which would build on overall widening of the freeway to the New Mexico border meant to facilitate border trade and ease traffic.
Dallas’ proposed I-345 redesign to bury the freeway between downtown and Deep Ellum, which opponents have called unnecessary. They have advocated for removing the freeway entirely.”
Below is a sample comment submitted by Woodland Heights neighbor:
The project as proposed isn’t needed because in the last 20 years the referenced section of I-10 has only
been impassable due to flood waters on three occasions lasting for no more than 24 hours each.
Raising this roadbed as proposed will not allow traffic to flow unimpeded because a mile of so west
there is the same rare flooding issue on the I-10 roadway between Washington Ave. and TC Jester.
Traffic can easily be routed around these rare hazards via I-610 as it has before.
The more pressing problem is improperly permitted tractor trailer haulers who collide with and damage
the Houston Ave. bridge over I-10. This hazard closes the highway multiple time during the year for
extended periods of time. The much more cost effective solution is to simply rebuild the Houston Ave.
bridge over I-10 (one direction at a time so it remains passable). It would cost less than 10% of what the
current proposal costs. As a taxpayer who funds these projects, I want my tax dollars to be spent wisely.
Or perhaps for even less cost a height monitoring and warning system could be built along I-10 to
directly notify truckers that their load is too tall and that they will cause a bridge collision if they do not
exit and re-route.
I can’t help wondering if the public isn’t being fully informed as to the true nature of the proposed
project. Since the proposed “improvement” doesn’t actually allow for traffic to flow unimpeded
because of simultaneous roadway flooding less than two miles west of the location. There must be
some other unmentioned purpose or benefit to TXDOT for the proposed project. Could it actually be
related to the long delayed and strongly objected to I-45 project? It isn’t helpful to your cause to not be
fully forthcoming about goals and motivations.
Currently there exists a natural sound barrier and air quality provider in the form of a stand of native
trees and shrubs between White Oak Bayou and I-10 just east of Taylor St. That native forest and animal
habitat needs to remain no matter what. So if we cannot stop this wasteful project from occurring I
strongly recommend that all the needed detention for 500 year flooding events be constructed under
the new proposed roadway. You already plan to use this area for detention. Why not simply excavate
deeper and provide all the necessary detention there and not remove our neighborhood’s highway
sound and pollution barrier?
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, then I insist that you provide the neighboring
communities (on both sides of the highway) a third party water engineering study proving that in the
event of a flooding event like occurred in 2017 (Hurricane Harvey) that the planned detention built
under the proposed elevated roadway will hold the same amount or more acre feet of water that rose
on I-10 during that flooding event.
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, and TXDOT by agreement builds all the requested
detention under the elevated roadway, it will do so in such a way that the public can use it as an
amenity; specifically like the one previously built west of Yale St. along White Oak Bayou near Rutland
St. and 5 th and 6 th Streets.
If indeed we cannot stop this wasteful project, TXDOT will use all known noise deadening designs and
materials on the proposed roadway to reduce noise in the adjoining communities and erect sound walls
covered by vegetation if the roadway exceeds the height of the existing forests along the highway.
TXDOT IS SPENDING $347 ON 1.8 MILES AND DEFORESTING THE LARGEST RIPARIAN AREA ADJACENT TO WHITE OAK BAYOU INSIDE THE 610 LOOP. SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO PROTECT OUR CITY. - A Tale of Two Bridges Blog
Read & Listen to WHCA Director of Infrastructure, Brad Snead’s interviews on the concerns about environmental and sound impacts to our neighborhoods and bayous.
Read Plan to elevate I-10 raises concerns among Heights-area residents, by Dug Begley, Staff Writer, Houston Chronicle
Listen to Houston Matters Episode - Plans to raise part of I-10, and Houston's stress level (July 29, 2022)
TxDOT has announced plans to raise a portion of I-10 near White Oak Bayou, but local residents are skeptical of the project. Will TxDOT move forward with the project despite their concerns? We discuss. MORE: TxDOT is seeking public input on the proposed project.
Review the TXDOT I-10 Expansion from Heights to I-45 Proposal
Submit Public Comment Form - Reference the following project numbers: CSJ 0271-07-326
TxDOT Houston District
Public Information Office
P.O. Box 1386
Houston, Texas 77251
713-802-5076
