October 17, 2007 Houston, North Freeway Tunnel Could be in the Future

Published by KTRH

North Freeway Tunnel Could be in the Future

One group says it's plan will move traffic better than any other.
By KTRH's Bill O'Neal
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

It's a whole new way of thinking about your ride on I-45. Imagine traveling several miles-- underground in a tunnel-- as you commute from North Houston to the downtown area.

The I-45 Coalition's plan is a stark contrast with what the Texas Department of Transportation envisions for improving the freeway. And while you might think constructing such a long underground roadway might be prohibitively expensive, I-45 Coalition President Jim Weston doesn't see it that way.

"The Freeway would cost $297 million a mile, the tunnel would be $317 million per mile, it's a five percent difference in the end," Weston said before the group took its plan to Houston's City Council Tuesday.

And, Weston said, the plan could be completed in half the the time it would take TexDot to complete it's tunnel-less improvements, while adding more lanes for express traffic, and cutting down on both environmental and noise pollution.

As for flooding, Weston said there's no need for concern. "A tunnel can be easily engineered not to flood. The reason 45 floods is it's an open pit where all the water goes in. A tunnel is not designed that way."

The group's goal is to garner as much support as it can for the idea, and some Council Members seem to be intrigued. "We need to send a friendly message, but a firm message to TexDot saying we don't want anymore Katy Freeway expansions in Houston. This city can not tolerate that," said Council Member Peter Brown. Council Member Ada Edwards wants the Transportation Committee to take a closer look, "So we can have a more thorough discussion of what a tunnel might look like."

However, Edwards and other Council Members also encouraged the group to enlist State lawmakers in their efforts to convince TexDot their plan is best.