Joe Brueggeman/Houston Public Media
Parts of Sugar Land and west Fort Bend County could soon see longer drive times into the city due to a new construction project.
TxDOT will begin work on the I-69 bridge over the Brazos River starting Friday. The project will move the end of the bridge further inland, away from the eroded riverbank.
During the first and second phases of construction, the exit and entrance ramps near the Telfair neighborhood in Sugar Land will see closures.
Also located near that exit is the University of Houston at Sugar Land and the Smart Financial Center. However, TxDOT spokesperson Kristina Hadley said construction will only take place during the weekends.
“Our goal is to minimize the disruption of their commute every day, but we are going to have weekend closures,” she said.
TxDOT will remove the damaged turnaround under the bridge and install armoring on the bridge’s northern foundation to protect it from further erosion.
“The erosion under the bridge has gotten out of hand,” Hadley said. “We just need to repair it and try to stop this erosion.”
Phase one of the construction is scheduled to wrap up in August 2025.
The $53 million project is expected to be completed in 2027. It will also extend the I-69 main lane and frontage road bridges.
“Starting this ambitious project marks a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance infrastructure and ensure the safety and efficiency of our transportation network,” Varuna Singh, Deputy District Engineer, TxDOT Houston, said in a statement.