METRO is set to flip the switch on a long-closed commuter shortcut at 5 a.m. on Monday, June 1, when the I-69 (US-59) Southwest Freeway HOV/HOT entrance and exit ramps at Westpark officially reopen. The ramps, shut down during the massive I-610/I-69 interchange rebuild, are coming back just in time as Houston gears up for an influx of visitors for FIFA World Cup matches and looks for ways to ease congestion on the always-packed Southwest Freeway.
In a press release from METRO, the agency noted the Westpark ramps had been closed "for several years" while the Texas Department of Transportation overhauled the I-610 West Loop/I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange. The agency said putting the ramps back in service should improve travel reliability and cut delays along the Southwest Freeway. "Bringing these ramps back into service restores an important connection for customers traveling through southwest Houston," METRO Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock said.
Hours and where to enter
The ramps will operate daily during peak managed-lane windows, 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., mirroring the center lane's reversible schedule. Drivers will be able to enter the managed lane from the West Loop 610 northbound frontage road at Westpark Drive, as reported by ABC13.
Timed for World Cup travel
METRO is framing the return of the Westpark ramps as part of its bigger pre-World Cup game plan. The agency will roll out extra service and more frequent routes from June 7 through July 11 to funnel fans to Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium) and other event zones. The reopened Westpark access restores a Park & Ride and bus entry point that METRO says could shave minutes off commutes during peak demand, according to METRO.
Construction context
According to a Texas Department of Transportation project fact sheet, the I-610/I-69 interchange overhaul rebuilt one-lane connectors into two-lane connectors, added shoulders and increased vertical clearances. Those upgrades required closing certain ramps while crews reconstructed bridges and connectors, which is why the Westpark HOV/HOT ramps stayed shut for several years and are only now returning to service, per TxDOT.
What drivers should know
The Westpark ramps are expected to reopen the morning of June 1, but drivers should still brace for heavy traffic on match days and during other big events. Commuters are encouraged to plan extra time and consider Park & Ride or METRORail as alternatives. ABC13 reported that METRO is directing riders to its website for maps, Park & Ride information and event-day schedules, and travelers are urged to check those resources for the latest service updates before heading out.
