Major Northpark Traffic Change Coming Next Week

7/31/2025 – According to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website, contractors will soon move all eastbound traffic on Northpark Drive between Italiano’s and GS Tire & Auto to newly constructed lanes on the south side of the thoroughfare. This will eliminate two major swerves within 3,000 feet and straighten out inbound traffic east of Loop 494.

The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website indicates the change will happen on the night of 8/5/2025. However, I have been unable to confirm that.

Photos of Lane-Change Areas Taken Today

All photos below were taken today starting from the east and moving west.

*Looking West from G&S.* *Inbound traffic will move to the south (left).*

The shift to the south will go past Russell Palmer … all the way to Italiano’s.

*Looking west from Russell Palmer (lower left). From this point, traffic in BOTH directions will shift south and demo of old outbound lanes will begin.*

*Still looking west. This detour will also straighten out. Italiano’s is out of frame in upper left. Through this stretch, traffic in both directions will shift left (south)*

After contractors open up the new eastbound lanes, they will shift westbound traffic to the south from NextCare Urgent Care to Russel Palmer. They will then begin demolition of the old westbound lanes between those two points.

Use extra caution as people get used to the changes and as traffic increases with people returning from vacation.

Bore Under Railroad Tracks Still Stalled

For several weeks now, boring for the twin 60″ pipes underneath the UnionPacific Railroad Tracks has been stalled due to the discovery of utility conflicts. The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority website simply says, “All work on UPRR ROW has been halted due to further unknown conditions found in the field on 7/25/2025.”

*The originating pit for the bores east of the UnionPacific tracks.*

*A few feet west of the tracks, the bores have not yet reached the receiving pit.*

The project planners intended to convey excess stormwater west of the tracks under them to the Kingwood Diversion Ditch and Bens Branch. But contractors must resolve the utility conflicts (shown above) and place junction boxes for the drainage in both pits before they can connect the drainage on each side of the tracks.

*So close and yet so far. Only a few feet separate the two pits. But the utility conflicts are holding up a major part of the job.*

Loop 494 Progress

Meanwhile contractors have made good progress on Loop 494 both north and south of Northpark.

*Looking S across Northpark at new northbound lanes (left) one of which is mostly finished..*

Looking north from the other side of Northpark…

*Contractors have begun placing rebar to expand the roadbed.*

After crews finish paving the northbound lanes of Loop 494, they will begin the eastbound lanes of Northpark west of Loop 494.

Between 59 and Loop 494

Between Loop 494 and 59, contractors are currently placing junction boxes for drainage underneath where the inbound surface lanes will go. Today, you could see them placing one of the boxes in front of Whataburger.

*Drainage junction box in front of Whataburger on right.*

According to the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority, “They will then move into the center median of Northpark west of LP 494, to begin work on the storm laterals and structures, which include the detention-pond equalizer pipe.” See below.

*Recently demolished center section of Northpark will be focus of next phase of drainage work.*

To see progress since the last update, compare photos in this post from 7/21/2025.

In Other Northpark News

Crews have started preparing the base for what will become new inbound surface lanes just east of the UP Railroad Tracks.

*Looking E across from Public Storage and Dunkin’ Donuts*

It’s not easy to see how the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle come together when you’re driving. Keep your eyes on the road and check back here periodically for progress reports.

Yesterday, as I came in on Northpark from 59, it took almost a half hour to get the one block from 59 to Loop 494. Because of the construction near Whataburger, inbound traffic was down to one lane for a short while. But it was back open this morning.

Such closures can be hard to predict and frustrating. To the degree you can, I would try to avoid Northpark during construction hours. But also be sensitive to the hardships placed on local merchants. Go out of your way to patronize them when you can.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/31/2025

2893 Days since Hurricane Harvey