On This Page
Project Information
IH 45 South Reconstruction Texas Department of Transportation 1/12/2015 1:46:33 PMProject Narrative
The need for the project is based on existing and anticipated congestion, safety, operations/state of good repair, and economic conditions of the area, including: • Demand exceeds capacity during both of the daily commute periods • Many of the critical IH 45 bridge crossings require replace or major reconstruction • Many section of IH 45 need major pavement maintenance • Improved operational efficiency and safety, • Correct roadway deficiencies, • Added capacity for project population and economic growth; • Improved mobility for hurricane evacuations due to IH 45’s designation as a hurricane evacuation route is a documented concern; • Roadway flooding contributes to reduced highway capacity and increased congestion • Current truck traffic is at six percent and expected to increase; • Facility is considered a freight bottleneck; • Improved connectivity is needed for major employment generators such as Galveston Island, NASA communities, and the nearby ports. I-45 is a major north-south corridor that connects Houston and Galveston. It serves daily trips to/from employment centers and provides access to tourist attractions on Galveston Island. It is also the primary evacuation route for Galveston County during hurricane events. The existing roadway is a 6-lane freeway (three mainlanes in each direction) with 2-lane frontage road lanes in each direction. Existing traffic volumes (AADT) are 54,500 vpd and are expected to reach 104,428 by 2038, almost doubling over that time period. Demand currently exceeds capacity during peak travel periods. The need for more efficient hurricane evacuation is a documented concern. The existing infrastructure, including bridges, is aging and in need of major rehabilitation and/or reconstruction. The existing interchanges are inefficient and do not meet current design standards. The project would increase capacity to accommodate future growth in the area. It would improve evacuation capability of the corridor for the region during hurricane events. The project would also enhance safety by upgrading the facility to current design standards. The proposed project would widen the existing facility from a 6-lane to an 8-lane freeway, providing one additional mainlane in each direction. It would improve the configuration of the interchanges at FM 519 and the Texas City Wye (SH 6/SH 146). The project would also incorporate pedestrian and bicycle accommodations along the I-45 frontage roads. Alternatives for the I-45 widening were considered during the major investment study that was conducted for the corridor from Beltway 8 in Houston to 61st Street in Galveston. They included a No-Build Alternative, a Transportation Systems Management Alternative, and four Build Alternatives. The widening of I-45 would extend approximately 5.5 miles and could be built largely within the existing right-of-way. Opportunities may exist for staging if ROW still needs to be acquired, but the State anticipates letting the project as one full project.Project Narrative
Yes Environmental Assessment (EA) Please Select Yes USACE Individual Permit, to be acquired by August 2019 03/03/2006 No No Utility adjustments will be made by provider, with TxDOT reimbursement. No The project was part of a major investment study of the I-45 corridor. Public meetings were held between 1998 and 1999 as part of that study to identify the public’s general perception of the problems and needs within the corridor. • Public Meeting – 3/23/2006 • Public Hearing - TBD The EA and PS&E are 30% complete. No ROW except possible corner clips will be required.Map/Location
Evalutation Questions - Major Investments
Benefit/Cost Methodology
Please attach the completed BCA Excel worksheet and narrative explanation of analyses used