Don’t exit here: US 290 ramps in Houston closing

​​HOUSTON – A key interchange in northwest Houston will close for six weeks, as work proceeds on the US 290 widening project.

Westbound access from US 290 to the Sam Houston Tollway closed January 22. 

It is scheduled to open on March 7, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

The Harris County Toll Road Authority, which manages the tollway, is telling drivers to expect delays, as the closing involves both northbound and southbound tollway access from westbound US 290.

Those headed north on the Sam Houston Tollway will use a temporary exit west of Gessner and use the frontage roads to merge onto the tollway north of Philippine.

Drivers headed south on the tollway will continue west on US 290, exit at Jones, and return to the tollway via eastbound US 290.

The closing is needed to complete paving and other work at the interchange, including rebuilding a support column for the connector ramps from US 290 to the tollway.

The $1.8 billion project will widen US 290 to at least five lanes in each direction from Loop 610 to Texas 6, and four lanes in each direction to Waller.

The 38-mile project, which includes interchanges and new entrance and exit ramps at local streets, is on pace to finish in late 2017, TxDOT officials said.