Houstonians better brace for a longer commute as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has announced the postponement of the much-needed construction work on the Southwest Freeway bridge over the Brazos River, now set to commence next weekend. According to a FOX 26 Houston report, erosion has posed a significant threat to the bridge's integrity, prompting an urgent $53 million project to replace and fortify the infrastructure.
The Brazos River, making its way through Fort Bend County for some 90 miles, has continuously reshaped its path, compromising the road and prompting closures. TxDOT plans to move the bridge foundation about 1,000 feet to the north to escape the relentless force of the eroding riverbank. Sugar Land City Councilman William Ferguson emphasized the crisis, telling FOX 26 Houston, "If you don't have supports under the I-69 bridge, you don't have a bridge, because the Brazos River is not a gentle river."
The scheduled work will result in the closure of entrance and exit ramps at University Boulevard, creating day-to-day hassles as traffic diverts to cramped feeder roads, especially during evening and weekend work hours. FOX 26 Houston reports that Ferguson warned of the potential shutdown of commerce and transport should the bridge's support fail, underscoring the urgency of the repairs.
Meanwhile, a visit to the site by ABC13 revealed the alarming rate of erosion at the river's edge, making areas like the Brazos River Turnaround unsafe and necessitating their closure. "The last couple of months now, the erosion just keeps getting worse and worse, to the point where it's dangerous now. I won't even cross that," local cyclist Rafael Gonzales shared with ABC13. The project, set to begin in mid-June, is part of a broader effort to curb erosion and protect infrastructure and neighborhoods in Fort Bend County.
With the initial work involving lane restriping and barricade installation, drivers can expect closures starting on Friday, June 7, from FM 762 in Richmond to University Boulevard until Monday morning as the project edges into its three-year trajectory,
