I-10/Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas (Under Construction)

Katy Freeway Construction Source: http://www.tfhrc.gov/pubrds/05may/04.htm

The Katy Freeway extends 40 miles from the Central Business District of Houston west to the Brazos River. Constructed from 1960 to 1968, it was designed to carry 79,200 vehicles per day. Currently, the Katy Freeway carries over 207,000 vehicles per day. There is congestion for 11 hours each day, not just at conventional peak hours. There is even congestion for long periods during the weekends. The traffic volumes and pavement deterioration are not only a deterrent to conducting business in the immediate Houston area, but also across the region, state and nation. The Katy Freeway has the highest daily truck volumes of any roadway in the state of Texas. Traffic generated from six radial highways, nine employment centers, the Port of Houston, and through truck traffic are all compressed into three lanes in each direction.

The Texas Department of Transportation in cooperation with the FHWA is reconstructing the middle 20-mile section of the Katy Freeway from its intersection with Interstate 610 to the City of Katy as a managed facility. The Katy Toll Road/Managed Lanes begin west of SH 6 and end at the I-10/I-610 interchange (approximately 12 miles). The facility will include 2 lanes in each direction and 3 lanes at the toll area and will be operated by Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA). Additionally, the toll lanes will be variably priced to manage congestion. The HCTRA will vary pricing to maintain a state of free-flow on the toll lanes at all times, particularly during AM and PM peak travel times.

To learn more about the I-10/Katy Freeway project, please visit www.katyfreeway.org.

To learn about other major highway projects in the United States, please visit FHWA's Major Project website.