Some METRO riders are catching an earlier bus as a lengthy closure of the I-10 HOV connector between the Katy Freeway and downtown Houston changes their daily commute.
The connector closed Friday night, Oct. 9, for demolition and reconstruction. The eastbound connector is expected to reopen in fall 2027, while the westbound connector is expected to reopen in summer 2028.
The work is part of the Texas Department of Transportation’s I-10 White Oak Bayou project, which will raise the freeway above the bayou floodplain to help reduce flooding.
METRO communications director Anna Carpenter said seven commuter routes serving the I-10 and U.S. 290 corridors are affected, along with two local routes: the 161 Wilcrest Express and 162 Memorial Express.
“We can expect delays in the time it comes to get downtown because all the commuters are going to be either pushed to the main lanes on I-10 and 290 or alternate routes like Memorial and Washington,” Carpenter said.
METRO recommends allowing an additional 15 to 30 minutes for travel while the agency assesses how traffic patterns change.
Most bus pickup locations remain the same, Carpenter said. A few stops are moving, with signs and rider alerts explaining where passengers should board.
John Le, who takes Route 222 Grand Parkway every day, said he is giving himself more time to reach work.
“I’m taking maybe the one bus earlier than what I would normally take,” Le said.
His Monday morning commute was relatively light, but he said the rest of the week could offer a better indication of the closure’s effects.
“You know, it gets busy Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, so as long as there’s no fender benders or accidents, then I’m hoping that everything is smooth,” he said.
Another Route 222 rider, Sue Perez, said her trip Monday was smoother than usual.
“Actually, I got here a little bit earlier this morning,” Perez said. “It seemed to go a little smoother than normal. But then it was also Columbus Day, so I think it was just a little lighter all around.”
Perez said she brings work on the bus, giving her something to do if the trip takes longer.
Carpenter said lighter holiday traffic makes it difficult to determine the closure’s full effect or estimate how many riders will experience delays on a given day.
She also rides Route 222 from Katy and allowed herself an extra 30 minutes Monday. Her trip went smoothly, she said, but that may change as more traffic returns.
“I would just suggest plan your route as you usually do, but give yourself 15 to 30 minutes more time until we see how the traffic patterns are going to be affected in the following weeks,” Carpenter said.
For affected inbound buses, the detour uses the I-10 main lanes and the Smith Street exit into downtown. Outbound buses use Louisiana Street to access westbound I-10.
Riders can check METRO’s service alerts or the RideMETRO app for route-specific detours and bus arrival information.
