major freeway closure

Prepare for another major weekend closure at 610 West Loop and Southwest Freeway

610 loop interchange Southwest Freeway Houston I-69

Closure of mainlanes on the Southwest Freeway will snarl traffic this weekend.

Photo courtesy of TxDOT

Houstonians out and about this weekend should prepare for a major closure that will no doubt affect travel plans in the Loop.

As part of the continued work on the I-610 West Loop/ I-69 Southwest Freeway interchange project, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will close all northbound and southbound mainlanes of I-69 Southwest Freeway between I-610 West Loop and Weslayan beginning Friday, June 5 at 9 pm until Monday, June 8 at 5 am.

Construction crews will place bridge beams for the new I-610 West Loop southbound connector to I-69 Southwest Freeway northbound. The beams span over the mainlanes of I-69 Southwest Freeway.

Motorists should expect delays and may want to consider an alternate route. Police officers will be onsite to assist with traffic control, according to TxDOT.

TxDOT has suggested these detours:

Northbound traffic
Take connector to IH-610 Southbound, then exit to Fournace Place/Bissonnet Street. Take U-turn at Bissonnet Street onto IH-610 Northbound Frontage Road. Take first entrance ramp onto IH-610 Northbound Main lanes, then connector to IH-69 Northbound Main lanes.

Southbound traffic
Take connector to IH-610 Northbound, then exit San Felipe Street. Take U-turn at San Felipe onto IH-610 Southbound Frontage Road. Take first entrance ramp onto IH-610 Southbound Main lanes, then connector to IH-69 Southbound Main lanes.

The construction is part of a $259 million project to improve safety and mobility at the busy interchange by widening the connector ramps to two lanes and improving sight lines. The 610 West Loop ranks as Texas' most congested highway.

Additional road closure information will be posted at www.houstontranstar.org and at www.HOU610at69.com. Drivers can also follow @HOU610at69 on Twitter for updates and more information on this project.

transportation traffic

no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana