WALKER COUNTY – Northbound IH-45 will be closed from 8 p.m. Monday, May 14, until 4 a.m. Tuesday, May 15.  All northbound traffic must exit I-45 at Exit 109, State Park Road 40. 

This closure is necessary to set concrete traffic barrier and place pavement markings necessary to shift traffic from the northbound lanes to the southbound lanes. The southbound lanes have been widened to accommodate both the northbound and southbound traffic. The traffic will be separated by concrete traffic barrier. Northbound traffic will remain in this location until the existing northbound lanes are reconstructed.

The northbound exits to SH 75 and SH 19 will not be accessible when the northbound traffic is relocated to the southbound lanes; traffic wanting to access SH 75 or SH 19 should exit IH-45 at Exit 109 until the new SH 75 Exit Ramp is completed. The new SH 75 Ramp should be opened by August 1, 2018.

The construction of the six miles widening project, Segment 1B of IH-45 from 0.5 miles north of Vick Springs Road to 0.3 miles north of SH 19 is under way.  This project will widen IH-45 to six lanes and will replace the State Park Road 40 bridges and southbound SH 19 Flyover. During the three-year project, multiple lane shifts and relocation of traffic will take place at various times to accommodate construction activity. 

IH-45 and SB SH 19 will also be closed at various times for safety of the traveling public and construction workers. The reconstruction of IH-45 will take place in two major phases. Phase one is under way and will include the addition of Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, northbound SH 19 Bridge and a new southbound SH 19 flyover.  Phase two, will include replacement of the Park Road 40 bridges. Johnson Bros. Corporation, a Southland Company was awarded the construction contract for the amount of $116,878,722.89.

For more information, contact Bobby.Colwell@txdot.gov or (979) 778-9764.