IH-10 inside the IH-610 loop is below grade and flooded near White Oak Bayou during Tropical Storm Allison
TxDOT's highway design standards have changed in the decades since the freeway was built
TxDOT is in the process of planning two separate projects -- elevated frontage lanes and flood mitigation
ponds -- to address these issues
It is likely that the proposed detention ponds would eliminate the need for elevated frontage lanes
The history
The 5.8-mile segment of IH-10 from the IH-610 west loop east to IH-45 was constructed in the 1960s and
opened in December 1968. The 10-lane freeway project claimed acres of land and displaced homes in
neighboring communities where people went to school, lived, worked and shopped. Commercial properties
developed along the freeway feeders in some places, and in other places, residential use prevailed.
Homeowners blocks away from the project ultimately felt the freeway's impact as rental properties and
industrial businesses replaced many of the homesteads in the neighborhoods. The railroad trestle west
of TC Jester built when the freeway was constructed, made history due its expanse and massive grape
arbor style superstructure.
Inside the loop, IH-10 is bordered by Memorial Park (Houston's largest and most-visited city park),
Cottage Grove Park, White Oak Bayou, White Oak Park, and some of Houston's most historic residential neighborhoods.
State of the art design: Depressed area impressive
This section of IH-10 was unique in another significant way: the one-and-a-half-mile section that
passes through the Cottage Grove neighborhood was constructed below grade. Surveys taken in 1971
reported favorable press from neighboring communities. The design engineer for the project, Bill Ward,
described the depressed section as "a superior design, making it easier for cars exiting off the freeway
to decelerate and cars entering the freeway to accelerate. Furthermore noise from traffic on the
depressed section is less disturbing on abutting property owners." Since IH-10's construction,
other Houston neighborhoods have benefited from the below-grade designs of US-59 (Southwest Freeway)
inside the loop, and IH-45 (North Freeway) north of downtown.
The current depressed design of IH-10 helps protect Cottage Grove, Woodcrest, and other neighborhoods from
the flooding, noise, air quality, and visual impacts of increasing freeway traffic. These sound-absorbing
earthen embankments and trees may be eliminated to accommodate proposed elevated frontage lanes.
Plans for the corridor
TXDOT has presented preliminary plans for two projects related to IH-10 expansion inside the IH-610 loop.
They include plans to:
Construct 3 flood water detention ponds near IH-10 and widen a section of White Oak Bayou
Construct a pumping station to divert water from IH-10 to the new detention ponds (instead of relying on gravity)
Replace the existing discontiguous feeder road system with continuous frontage lanes on the south side
(eastbound) between Washington Ave. and Taylor St., and on the north (westbound) between Washington and Studemont.
Consolidate freeway entrances and exits (access management) for Washington and TC Jester
Construct 30' high elevated bridges over the rail road tracks west of TC Jester to continue the frontage
lanes between TC Jester and Washington
Eliminate a pedestrian bridge east of TC Jester
Remove landscaped trees, dense woods and grassy earthen slopes
Leave current street crossings (bridges) in place
Click each image to access a high-resolution version of TxDOT's preliminary diagram (~1 mb jpg)
McDonald to Cohn including Cottage Grove Park
Reinerman to Shepherd
Elevation
Proposed lanes will be approximately 30’ above grade. No sound mitigation is included in plan yet. Sufficient
ROW exists for proposed frontage lanes to be below grade instead.
Schematic
Proposed relocation of pedestrian bridge puts southern terminus abutting UPRR ROW. Sidewalk access may be an issue.
Eastbound entry ramp from TC Jester eliminated (extends emergency vehicle access to IH10 approx. 1600' east
through 2 signalized intersections). Sound-absorbing earthen embankment replaced with concrete retaining wall (must model noise impacts).
Challenges
Many residents from Cottage Grove and Woodcrest want both IH-10 main lanes and any frontage lanes to remain
below grade. They want any expansion to stay within the existing right-of-way. They are concerned about the
impact of redirected freeway access for industrial and emergency vehicles, and the traffic and development
impacts of new continuous frontage lanes on the urban community environment. Union Pacific Railroad wants
its route to remain operable during any roadway construction.
Proposed elevated frontage lanes would introduce overhead traffic at the fence line near the basketball
court and baseball field of Cottage Grove Park. At 23' above the existing at-grade railroad trestle,
the proposed frontage lanes would be significantly taller than the basketball canopy shown. This photo
shows the current view of the freeway. Because the main lanes are below grade, IH-10 is not visible
from local streets or homes built on the north or south sides of the freeway.
Current status
TxDOT will hold a public open house on
Thu June 8, 2006 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm regarding the proposed construction of flood mitigation pond(s)
along White Oak Bayou near IH-10 inside the loop. The meeting will be held at Sinclair Elementary School
(cafeteria), 6410 Grovewood Ln, Houston, 77008.
Written comments relative to the retention pond project may be presented at a meeting or submitted
at any time on or before June 18, 2006 to:
Director of Project Development
Texas Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 1386, Houston, Texas, 77251-1386
TxDOT is currently in the Planning, Specifations, and Estimate (PS&E) phase for the frontage lane project.
They expect to present final designs at a public meeting in late summer or fall 2006.
Discuss new developments for these projects and others in CTC's Forums
What we know
Bayou Preservation Association met with TXDOT and City of
Houston to discuss the potential for multipurpose detention area development.
TxDOT has not considered constructing new frontage lanes below grade
TxDOT informed citizens that alternatives to elevated lanes will be reconsidered and that due to other
changes required in the plans, citizens can anticipate a public meeting will be held sometime soon.
Many residents from Cottage Grove and Woodcrest want TxDOT to evaluate tunneling or cut-and-cover designs before expansion.
TxDOT and the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) are planning to connect the Hempstead Managed lanes
from the 290 corridor into IH-10 somehow, but specific plans are not yet available.
TxDOT is planning a major expansion of nearby IH-45 but any plans for mitigating flood water east of Studemont
are not yet known.
City of Houston nominated the White Oak Bayou bikeway program trail connector between TC Jester and Yale for
considertion in TxDOT's Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program (STEP) grant selection process.
Camacho & Associates has proposed an alternative design for nearby IH-45 that encourages evlaluation and
construction of a tunnel option. TXDOT has agreed to study and evaluate the tunnel. Gary Trietsch, Dir. TxDOT
Houston District, has stated they can build a tunnel if it's what the public wants.
