The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) has begun a $962 million project to replace the bridge across the ship channel on the Sam Houston Tollway from SH 225 to I-10 in Houston, Texas.
The HCRTA is undertaking its largest infrastructure project ever to replace the Ship Channel Bridge so it can handle growing traffic. The bridge currently carries about 55,000 vehicles a day, which is expected to grow to about 160,000 vehicles a day by 2035. The replacement project includes four lanes in each direction. The Ship Channel Bridge was converted to all-electronic tolling in 2016, and tolls are to remain in effect while construction is underway.
The entire project will take about 6.5 years with the southbound span set for completion in 2021. All traffic will then be switched to the southbound bridge while the current bridge is torn down and the northbound span is built. HCTRA expects all work to be finished by 2024.
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Source: Houston Public Media / KHOU-TV (Houston)
