HOUSTON – The Hardy Toll Road direct connector project is all about staying connected. It has been in the works for years and when it’s done, it’ll benefit both drivers and cyclists. The latest milestone completed: The Lorraine Street Underpass.
The nearly four-mile stretch of new concrete extending south of 610 North Loop will feed traffic into the heart of Houston, becoming a faster, easier north-south access allowing drivers to bypass congestion at the North Loop, IH-45 and IH-69.
According to the Hardy Toll Road Authority, it’s being worked on in two phases:
- Phase I is all about relocating the railroad crossings Collingsworth, Lorraine and Quitman Streets.
- Phase II is the actual construction of the Hardy Toll Road Downtown Connector mainlanes.
Project Updates:
June 2003: HCTRA and Houston Belt & Terminal railroad (HB&T) signed a Purchase and Sales Agreement for the HB&T Passenger Main Railroad Corridor that enabled the County to move the project forward.
August 2006: The Texas Department of Transportation approved HCTRA’s plans for the connection to IH-69.
September 2007: HCTRA public meeting held at Ryon Civic Association.
November 2007: HCTRA public meeting held at Greater Northside Management District.
Early 2008: The City of Houston signed a street closure and abandonment agreement, which allowed HB&T to move forward with the railroad track relocation - essential to making the project a reality.
2001-2011: Negotiations between HCTRA, HB&T and Union Pacific Railroad continued.
2011: City of Houston provided approval to remove at-grade crossings at Lorraine, Collingsworth and Quitman.
June 2012: Harris County Commissioners Court approved an agreement with HB&T and Union Pacific Railroad to acquire the corridor by relocating the rail lines into a single corridor.
September 2014: Relocation of the rail lines was completed.
October 2016: HCTRA Community Open House for Collingsworth construction held at Ryan Development Center. HCTRA began construction of Collingsworth grade separation.
September 2018: HCTRA completed construction of Collingsworth grade separation.
February 2019: HCTRA began construction of the Lorraine underpass grade separation.
June 2019: HCTRA public meeting for the project held at Sherman Elementary School
May 2020: HCTRA received authorization from Commissioners Court to suspend design development of Phase II to allow for reevaluation of Phase II of the Hardy Toll Road Downtown Connector.
December 2020: HCTRA received authorization from Commissioners Court to seek Statements of Qualifications of firms for planning and conceptual design of Phase II of the Hardy Toll Road Downtown Connector.
September 2022: HCTRA completed construction of the Lorraine underpass grade separation.