Houston’s controversial highway work to go ahead?

The controversial project to widen Interstate 45 in Houston, Texas may yet go ahead. The plan is to widen the Interstate along a 38.4km length, with improvement works also to be carried out to other roads along this part of the route. The project is expected to take 10 years to complete at a cost of US$5.7 billion.

However, there are concerns over the impact the work will have as it will result in the demolition of numerous properties on the north side of the city. Around 1,000 homes and 344 businesses as well as five churches and two schools will have to be removed. The majority of these people and businesses having to be relocated are in an area that has a high African-American population, prompting particular criticism. Meanwhile, there are also concerns that the highway widening work will not actually alleviate the traffic congestion along I-45, while also potentially making flooding and localised pollution worse.

A federal lawsuit has now been filed into the proposals for the project. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is carrying out a review of the plans. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is meanwhile still trying to move ahead with the work.