HOUSTON — A major roadway overhaul in one of Houston’s busiest corridors is moving forward, with construction on the West Alabama Street Reconstruction Project expected to begin in late 2026.
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Officials provided an update on the project’s progress during an April 20 meeting of the Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) board, outlining key design milestones and anticipated construction timelines. The project aims to improve mobility, drainage and pedestrian safety along West Alabama Street from Shepherd Drive to Spur 527.
Initial work is already underway, with surveying and design phases currently in progress. A topographic survey and subsurface utility engineering — which involves identifying and mapping underground utilities — are expected to be completed by the end of April. Project officials said an updated design plan is scheduled for submission by the end of September.
The reconstruction project includes a comprehensive set of upgrades designed to modernize the corridor and address long-standing infrastructure issues. Planned improvements include full concrete roadway reconstruction, installation of new six-foot sidewalks and upgraded street lighting.
Additionally, the project will incorporate larger storm sewers, along with updated sanitary sewer and water lines, to enhance drainage capacity and reduce flooding risks. Traffic flow improvements are also central to the plan, with redesigned traffic signals and the addition of a new signal at Hazard Street.
Traffic engineer Geoff Carleton with TEI Planning and Design said the redesign will address safety concerns tied to the corridor’s existing reversible lane configuration.
“That corridor had a reversible lane there, which leads to confusion on how those intersections operate,” Carleton said. “So we'll be able to bring those all up to a safer, better standard, which should also allow us to operate the pedestrian crossings better.”
While earlier plans in 2022 included bike lanes, the current project scope has removed that component. Instead, the focus has shifted toward improving pedestrian access and traffic safety through signal optimization and better crossing infrastructure.
A new traffic signal at Hazard Street will be installed, along with additional pedestrian crossing signals at Mount Vernon and Garrott streets. These enhancements are intended to improve connectivity across the corridor and make it easier for residents to navigate north-south routes.
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“We're really trying to create a good spacing and permeability for people to be able to move north [and] south, across what will be a fairly consistent three lane cross section,” Carleton said.
Officials also emphasized that the redesigned corridor will feature a more uniform three-lane configuration, which is expected to improve traffic flow while enhancing safety for both drivers and pedestrians.
Looking ahead, construction is projected to begin in late 2026 and conclude by late 2028. A public meeting is expected to take place in July to gather community input, though an exact date has not yet been announced.
The project represents a significant infrastructure investment in Houston’s Montrose area and is expected to deliver long-term benefits through improved roadway conditions, enhanced safety features and upgraded utility systems.
Originally reported by Ariel Worthy in Community Impact.
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