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Celebrate smoother 610 West Loop traffic as long-closed bridge at Southwest Freeway finally reopens

The long-closed bridge at 610 and Southwest Freeway reopens Monday, July 17.

Photo courtesy of TxDOT

For nearly five full years, drivers on the 610 West Loop and the Southwest Freeway have endured lane closures and nonstop construction. Now, commuters and motorists can celebrate a big change.

The Texas Department of Transportation will open the newly crafted southbound mainlanes of the West Loop bridge over the I-69 Southwest Freeway on Monday, July 17. Elissa Rivas of CultureMap news partner ABC13 broke the story first on Wednesday, July 12.

Notably, this reopening is ahead of the initial schedule TxDOT estimated.

As for the timeline, construction crews will close the West Loop southbound at the Southwest Freeway at 8 pm Friday July 14 to stripe the lanes and prepare the new southbound bridge for traffic.

Commuters will then be able to travel the brand-new lanes and bridge at 5 am, Monday July 17, Rivas reports.

Drivers can enjoy even more flow: TxDOT will also reopen West Loop entrance ramp from Westheimer Road, which has been closed for several months as part of this ongoing construction.

Meanwhile, TxDOT will demolish the old West Loop bridge at a later date, per Rivas.

This mainlane reopening is a crucial step in freeing up 610 traffic and completing the West Loop/Southwest Freeway interchange project. As CultureMap has regularly reported, the I-69/I-610 interchange project is a $259 million endeavor aimed at significantly enhancing safety and improving mobility by widening the connector ramps to two lanes, increasing sight distances, and providing remedies to eliminate weaving.

Before departing, drivers can get updates at the Houston TranStar website and at the I-610 W. Loop/I-69 SW Freeway Interchange website. Follow the HOU 610 at 69 Twitter page for updates and more information.

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.

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