HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A construction project on the Northwest Freeway could snarl traffic for weeks.
Crews shut down both the northbound and southbound lanes of State Highway 290 at the Beltway at around 9pm Friday.
Now they are soldering and working on a project expected to last six weeks. It's all part of a huge $1.8 billion project to widen 290 from the loop all the way to Highway 6.
Come Monday, it will mean more traffic headaches on a stretch of highway that is always an issue. Just ask drivers like Michael and Jason, who work in the construction business.
"Takes forever to get five miles," says driver Jason Fouts. "Takes 25 minutes to get anywhere around here, and we just work right down the street."
Michael says time is money in the construction business, and now with six weeks of added delays, he and Jason will just have to pack their patience.
The feeder road is bound to back up. Your best alternative will be to exit Jones Road and u-turn to approach the Beltway from the west side.
Another alternative is to avoid the area altogether using the Hempstead Highway.
The feeder roads this weekend are already seeing quite a bit of traffic. With the start of a new work week beckoning, it might be a long six weeks on the Northwest Freeway.