Houston activists protest against I-45 reconstruction project as groundbreaking begins

HOUSTON (KIAH) –This Wednesday, the Texas Department of Transportation will host its I-45 groundbreaking ceremony to present plans for reconstruction in the area.

This first phase includes drainage and infrastructure construction east of Downtown. Work on the main lanes of the freeway is expected to begin in January 2025.

It will reroute I-45 in downtown and add additional lanes from I-69 to the North Beltway. TxDOT hopes to finish construction in 2042.

However, before the ceremony, advocates and activists will be protesting the North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) at Pitch 25 in the East End at 1:30 p.m.

The event was created to expand I-45 and start construction with a drainage project at St. Emmanuel that has led to the displacement of businesses and housing. The group of activists, ‘Stop TxDOT I-45′ believe that the I-45 expansion is wasteful of the $13 billion that will limit Houstonians’ mobility, safety, health and economic prosperity.

In a release, the group said that freeway expansions have proven repeatedly that traffic will get worse.

Stop TxDOT I-45 believes that the future of transportation can go in a more positive direction that moves drivers safely in a healthy environment. According to Stop TxDOT I-45, The project will remove the homes of 1,235 families, destroy 331 businesses , two schools and five places of worship.

This is a developing story. Tune into the latest updates both on-air and online at CW39.com. To learn more about the NHHIP project, visit the website here .

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