traffic watch

Houston, get ready for serious construction on 288 near The Medical Center

It's time prepare for delays, step on brakes, and quietly curse. Commuters have no doubt noticed that crews have begun work on the SH 288 project that will significantly impact the area around Southmore Blvd. in Houston’s Historic Third Ward, not far from the Medical Center.

Planners have implemented a series of weekend closures to facilitate the complete demolition of the existing Southmore bridge and the reconstruction of a new bridge.

Closure No. 1

Dates: Friday, April 20, 2018, at 9 pm – Monday, April 23, 2018, at 5 am

What to expect:
Noise: Full demolition of the existing Southmore bridge will occur on this weekend. Residents in the area should expect loud noises from the collapse of the structure.

Total closures: The frontage road lanes of SH 288 at Southmore Blvd. will be completely closed. The on-ramps and off-ramps leading to Southmore Blvd. will only be accessible for through-traffic. Police will be directing traffic in this area. Access to the frontage road near Southmore Blvd. will be prohibited at these locations:

Northbound: Prospect St, Oakdale St, Southmore St., and Wichita St.
Southbound: Wentworth Ave, Arbor St, Rosedale St., Wichita St., Southmore Blvd. and Oakdale St.

Last chance exit:
From the north: Binz St. will be the last exit drivers can utilize prior to I-59 before hitting the heavy construction area at Southmore.
From the south: Tuam St. will be the last exit for drivers before hitting the heavy construction area at Southmore.

Additional signage: Signswill be posted for drivers to alert them of the construction in the area. Drivers are encouraged to stay alert in these areas and look for directional signage.

Closure No. 2
Dates: Beginning Monday, April 23, 2018, at 5 am (Duration: 12 to 18 months)

What to expect:
Access to the frontage road will be reopened. The Southmore bridge will remain closed for the reconstruction of the bridge.

Multi-highway construction projects are occurring simultaneously in the Houston Metro area, so TxDOT and the Drive288 Project want to stress to travelers to #KnowBeforeYouGo. Check social media feeds and local news stations for traffic advisories before heading to destinations, or visit the Drive 288 project.

Commuters should plan for delays with demolition of the Southmore bridge.

construction 288 bridges Houston traffic

Photo courtesy of Drive288

Commuters should plan for delays with demolition of the Southmore bridge.

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”