August 14, 2005 (Houston I-45) Worried residents voice opposition to freeway expansion plan

Worried residents voice opposition to freeway expansion plan
Gene Apodaca

ABC13 Eyewitness News(8/14/05 - HOUSTON) - Hundreds of residents faced off with the Texas Department of Transportation. They're worried about a proposed plan to expand Interstate 45 and they made their concerns heard at a town hall meeting.
Residents are concerned that under the proposed plan their homes would be in jeopardy. Now they're asking the state to look at other alternatives.

For more than 30 years Maria Hurtado has worked to make her Woodland Heights house a home. But now she worries an expansion project could leave her homeless. She said, "I'm still paying on my house. I'm very close to finishing the payments." Hurtado was one of about 800 concerned residents packing Davis High School Saturday. Each was worried about what the proposed I-45 expansion would mean for them.

Heights resident Robin Franklin said, "Destruction of quality of life, taking out homes." "If they take more land than they need and more than the public is willing to give, then it's a lose-lose situation," explained Terry O'Conner, a Woodland Heights resident.

Last month, the Texas Department of Transportation presented its preferred plan for expansion. It's a plan calling for the addition of four managed lanes along I-45 in addition to the existing eight lanes already there. But critics say there are better plans out there. Some want a tunnel to be built, sparing neighboring communities..

Ken Lindow with the I-45 Coalition explained, "We're concerned about losing our homes. We're concerned about more noise, more pollution."

On Saturday, TX-DOT promised to take the suggestions into consideration. "I hope this is a wakeup call to all our mobility advocates and leaders, that you have to listen to the public," said US Rep Sheila Jackson Lee.

A final plan isn't expected until at least October. Until then, those like Hurtado can only wait and worry about their homes. It's estimated that some 90,000 residents would be affected under the current plan.
(Copyright © 2005, KTRK-TV)