Traffic trouble await those who drive near 59 and Buffalo Speedway

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Just when you thought traffic couldn't get any worse, the Texas Department of Transportation is closing down Buffalo Speedway. It will be closed at US-59 starting Wednesday as TxDOT finishes the final phase of the Southwest Freeway frontage road reconstruction project.

The intersection is scheduled to be closed for 30 days, but may be completed sooner.

"We already have enough highways closed down already! We can barely get around in Houston," says Ashley Pierre, a cab driver.

TxDOT spokesperson Danny Perez says the project has already drawn criticism from drivers, even though the contractor is ahead of schedule. "Because TxDOT has gotten so many complaints and concerns in this high-traffic area, we wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible."

Work will continue around the clock in order to finish the reconstruction before Thanksgiving.

"It will be an inconvenience, but we will get out of there quicker," Perez says.

Contractor Hassell Construction Company has the potential to earn an additional $10,000 a day for up to seven days if the project is completed before November 21.

Perez says the Buffalo Speedway intersection is the last segment of the $19 million project to reconstruct the freeway feeder of US-59, between IH-610 (West Loop) and Greenbriar.

"Between the potholes, cracks and maintenance issues, it was more cost effective to reconstruct than repair piece by piece," he explains.

The Southwest Freeway frontage road at Buffalo Speedway will be down to a single through lane but will remain open. You can use the frontage roads and U-turns at Weslayan or Kirby as a detour to then reconnect to Buffalo Speedway.