Northpark Surface Lanes Now Open from US59 Past Russell Palmer

6/24/26 – Traffic now flows smoothly – straight through – on new Northpark Drive surface lanes all the way from US59 to Russell Palmer Road and beyond! Yesterday afternoon, crews switched crossing arms and traffic signals at Loop 494 and the Union Pacific Railroad Tracks.

Traffic flowed smoothly all the way down Northpark! And within an hour, Harper Brothers started demolishing the old lanes.

*Demolishing old asphalt lanes near UPRR tracks*. *Photo courtesy of Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority.*

The switch to the new surface lanes now opens the way for bridge construction over the tracks and 494. That’s the good news.

Impact of Intersection Reconstruction

However, the Loop 494 intersection is being demolished for storm sewer work and repaving. Northpark Project Manager Ralph De Leon expects that could take as long as 4-5 weeks. However, Harper Brothers Construction hopes to shorten that time.

East-west traffic will remain open and unobstructed during reconstruction of the intersection. However, north-south traffic on Loop 494 will be diverted onto Northpark. To continue north or south, traffic will have to go east or west on Northpark until it reaches a crossover. After, making a U-turn, drivers will then have to double back to 494 and turn north or south again.

It sounds complicated. But the drone photos below will help visualize it. All pictures below were taken around 3PM on 6/23/26.

*Note in- and outbound Northpark traffic now using new concrete feeder lanes. Also note northbound 494 traffic turning right on Northpark to loop around and get to the other side of the intersection.*

North- and southbound traffic may find it easier to use US59 for the next month.

*Contractors demolishing the old, asphalt center lanes near railroad and Loop 494 intersection*

*Facing east. Wider shot shows east/west traffic now crossing 494 and tracks straight through in both directions.*

*Facing south. Note Loop 494 traffic being diverted onto Northpark in both directions.*

*Inbound is now a straight shot as far as the eye can see.*

Traffic no longer does a zig-zag near the tracks as it did for months.

Entry Pond Status

Elsewhere along the length of the project, another visible sign of progress is the entry ponds at US59. They will double as detention ponds that handle additional runoff from the extra lanes being added to Northpark. They will also serve as beautiful, welcoming entrances to the community.