The Alabama Street bridge over I-69, just east of downtown Houston, will be demolished by TxDOT during the week of February 6. Traffic shifts and heavy equipment will be set up in the days before demolition. The work will cause daytime lane and ramp closures for drivers in the area.
Closures and detours
On Wednesday, Alabama Street westbound will lose its inside lane between Chenevert Street and Almeda Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. On February 2, the I-69 northbound entrance ramp from McGowen Street will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for drainage work in preparation for a bridge teardown, according to Click2Houston.
Drivers who normally use the McGowen ramp will be pushed onto surface streets: right on McGowen, left on Emancipation, left on Gray, right on Chartres, left on Commerce and right on Chenevert to get back onto I-69 northbound. The ramp detour is detailed on Houston TranStar closure listings, so expect heavier local traffic along that route during the daytime work window.
Why TxDOT is removing the bridge
According to TxDOT, the Alabama Street bridge has to go to make way for a new roadway alignment, upgraded drainage and long-term changes tied to the I-45 expansion through downtown. The agency says more specific detour details for the week-of-Feb.-6 demolition will be released closer to the start of work, according to Click2Houston.
Project context
The demolition is just one piece of the long-running I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project, a multibillion-dollar rebuild that aims to reroute the freeway, add capacity and improve flood resiliency, work that will roll out in phases over years and has drawn both support and criticism. Smart Cities Dive outlines the project’s overall scope and timeline, while a Hoodline report on earlier schedule shifts for downtown closures highlighted how frequently drivers can expect the construction plan to move.
How to plan
If your commute or errands run through downtown during the next two weeks, build in extra time, follow posted detours and consider alternate surface routes during daytime work hours. For live closure maps and up-to-the-minute changes, check Houston TranStar and local traffic outlets before you hit the road.
