Do you normally take I-10 the Katy Freeway into town? Then you’ve probably noticed the construction and delays approaching downtown. So after the weekend, you probably thought to take another route into work to avoid sitting in a parking lot.

Your Options: Memorial Drive, Washington Ave, Allen Parkway, 59 Southwest Frwy, North Loop

Today, I heard that people who chose Memorial Drive were not too happy because there was a lot of traffic there. I found out that the signal lights were flashing around Memorial Drive and 610 – those have been fixed. Also, “Signals” has been keeping an eye on the traffic patterns and have made timing adjustments. They said today (when I spoke with them on the phone) that you should see a difference tomorrow with a better flow of traffic.

Personally, I am a freeway person so i would choose 59 Southwest Frwy if there were no accidents or problems before I left the house. If that puts you too far away from your destination, I would choose Allen Parkway as my next alternate because there are hardly any lights to sit through and the speed limit keeps traffic moving. Next it would be a toss up b/w Memorial Drive and Washington Ave.-both are popular, right next to Katy Freeway and have lights. For those reasons…they will both run slowly. The North Loop would be my last option-construction there makes for a long commute.

Now, you can always just stay on the Katy Freeway. Today it didn’t look as bad, but it just depends.

I hope this helps. Drive friendly!

**** By the way: Here’s a map that might help****

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100081557010585993822.00044b1415aeab79e836b&ll=29.772246,-95.406121&spn=0.083549,0.108168&source=embed

I-10 East Freeway Construction In Downtown

TXDOT BEGINS REHAB WORK ON IH 10 EAST IN DOWNTOWN

“Total Closure of IH 10 Eastbound at IH 45 This Weekend”

WHEN: Friday, 11/6 at 9 p.m. until Monday, 11/9 at 5 a.m.

WHERE: IH 10 eastbound WILL BE CLOSED at IH 45 in downtown. Traffic will be detoured to IH 45 South or IH 45 North exit.

ALTERNATE: Motorists can either take IH 45 North to the North Main exit and u-turn back to IH 45 South to access IH 10 eastbound or IH 45 South to US 59 North to access IH 10 eastbound. This closure is necessary so crews can stripe the roadway and set up concrete traffic barriers for the major freeway rehabilitation work that will begin on Monday, November 9th which will reduce IH 10 eastbound traffic to one lane from the IH 45 North and IH 45 South exit ramps to White Oak Bayou for approximately three months. The IH 10 eastbound exit to Smith Street will remain open. Expect significant delays and should consider an alternate route whenever possible. This is the first of three phases for the 18 month repavement project that will span from IH 45 to US 59.

*****NEW INFO BELOW*****

DOWNTOWN HOV LANE TO OPEN TO ALL PASSENGER VEHICLES DURING IH 10 EAST CONSTRUCTION

(Houston) – The Texas Department of Transportation and METRO, working together to relieve congestion during IH 10 East construction, will allow all passenger vehicles to utilize the Downtown elevated HOV bridge during the initial phase of the IH 10 eastbound reconstruction.  Effective today, TxDOT and METRO reached an agreement to open the HOV lane to all traffic, with the exception of heavy trucks, for the next three months while IH 10 eastbound through-traffic is reduced to a single lane between IH 45 and the White Oak Bayou Bridge.  The lane reduction takes effect upon the completion of the total closure work happening this weekend.

The IH 10 Downtown HOV lane will be accessible to all passenger vehicles 24 hours a day eastbound and westbound during this phase of construction.

My alarm goes off around 3AM. Once I get to work, I touch up for camera, put on my mic and IFB set and start on a bowl of fruit. There’s usually some combo of banana, kiwi, blueberries, strawberries, apple or oranges. Obviously, any fruit will do. Then it’s off to the set at 5:01AM. And as I “standby”…this is what I see…robotic camera #1, Anthony Yanez forecasting the weather and a floor director (he’s missing from this picture).

My view right before I go on LIVE.

And when I look to my left, I can see this monitor. There is another to my right. If those are ever off, it’s like doing traffic with my eyes closed. It’s possible, just not ideal. Matt, our robotic operator is taking his seat-in the distance.

I have two side monitors (this is one), so that I can see what you see on tv.

Improvements Begin on US 290 HOUSTON –

Work has begun on the first of two projects on US 290. The project consists of widening the existing pavement to add extra lanes on the US 290 eastbound and westbound mainlanes between West Little York and Fairbanks N. Houston, as well as re-striping the existing pavement to add additional lanes along the US 290 eastbound and westbound mainlanes between Jones Road and FM 529. Crews will also widen the westbound approach to Senate Avenue to create combined u-turn and left-turn storage at the intersection. Once complete, the extra lanes will alleviate traffic congestion by providing motorists with improved access to/from the US 290 mainlanes. Crews began installing barricades and signing; work on the US 290 mainlanes is anticipated to begin in the coming weeks. Work on the proposed improvements is anticipated to take approximately 6 months to complete. Motorists are advised to anticipate temporary lane reductions on the US 290 westbound frontage road to accommodate the intersection improvements, as well as extended shoulder closures and nightly mainlane closures along the US 290 eastbound and westbound mainlanes. 

Though independent of the reconstruction planned as a part of the US 290/Hempstead Corridor Program, these projects are important first steps in providing immediate relief to the traffic congestion on the Northwest Freeway.

Houston’s largest kid-friendly Halloween event is back!

OCT 31st: THIS IS THE LAST WEEKEND (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) to head to the Houston Zoo for Halloween activities that are fun for the whole family!

The zoo encourages all kids to come dressed in their spookiest, scariest, or prettiest Halloween costume!  They’ll love to show off their costume in our Costume Parade and dance to the “thrilling” music with our children’s DJ!

In an effort to be “green,” the zoo is asking children to bring their own trick-or-treat bag to the event.

Zoo Boo is FREE for Zoo Members. To read more about it head to
http://www.houstonzoo.org/zooboo/
 

It’s an eerie feeling to hear about “follow up details” to any of the deadly accidents that you see me report on in the mornings. Sometimes I get emails from people wanting to know what happened or who was involved or why it occurred. Usually, I don’t have those details because police officers and investigators are busy on the scene. Plus, my job is to focus on your commute and help you get to where you are going in the shortest amount of time. Even if I know more details, on-air…I stick to the traffic information and leave “news details” to the anchors.

Hours after I left work this morning…I heard the story about what happened on Allen Parkway, near Montrose. (8:15am) To read about it, click here: http://www.click2houston.com/news/21463969/detail.html

It’s an unfortunate reminder for us all to be cautious with wet roads, to keep speeds at a decent pace and to always buckle up. We are encountering SEVERE WEATHER, so please be careful. See you in the morning. -Jen

A:

Jennifer, I will get this information to the project managers to try and get them to come up with a better traffic plan. Since the project is new the contractor may need to make some adjustments. This project will end on October 27, 2010 and will include new storm drains, curbs and gutters, street lights and more. Total street reconstruction. -City of Houston

Take a close look…

Can you see the billboard in this picture?

The UH Mitchell Center for the Arts is hosting an artist named Karyn Olivier who is producing this city-wide outdoor public art exhibit ON HWY BILLBOARDS. It’s a neat concept. She is replacing 13 billboard ads across Houston with life-sized photographic representations of what drivers would see if the advertising did not exist: sky, buildings, homes, trees and other elements of the environment.

Olivier’s major public art project, “Inbound: Houston,” will reveal this new view of the city Oct. 26 through Nov. 22.

Aaaahh, back to nature!

I was very pleased when asked to host the 2nd Annual Country Ball(2009) benefiting Houston’s Ronald McDonald House. Since 1981, The Ronald McDonald House has offered a home away from home to the families of children undergoing treatment for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. At least $33,000 has been raised this year. Here are some of the pictures of Saturday night’s event. If you’d like to make a contribution, here’s their link: http://www.rmhhouston.org

Firehouse Saloon

Crowd At The Firehouse Saloon

Hot Auction Items: Guitar Played/Signed By Roger Creagar And Signed Yao Ming Jersey

Autographed Guitar Sold For $475

Please take the time to talk with your children about the importance of driving responsibly: