Get ready for a 6-week traffic headache on the NW side of town

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Get ready for a major traffic alert on the northwest side of town that starts this weekend.

Starting Friday at 9pm, TxDOT will close the connector ramp from Highway 290 westbound to Beltway 8, both northbound and southbound.

The closure will last about six weeks. Construction crews need the time to rebuild a supporting column.

Here are the detours as laid out by TXDOT:

• Motorists accessing the southbound tollway will be detoured to the US 290 Jones exit, U-turn, and enter the US 290 eastbound mainlines to the tollway southbound.
• Motorists accessing the northbound tollway will be detoured to the US 290 frontage road at the new temporary exit just past Gessner, turn right at the Beltway 8 frontage road, and enter the tollway past Philippine.

The start of this ramp closure will be accompanied by additional main lane closures in that area during this weekend, so be prepared, at times, to detour to the frontage road.

These added main lane closures will re-open in time for rush hour on Monday morning.

Downtown Houston will also see some major closures. I-10 Eastbound lanes at I-45 North will be shut down from 9PM Friday until 5AM on Monday. Drivers will need to take I-45 North, and make a U-turn at North Main.

Hardy Toll Road will also be closed at FM-1960 this weekend. The lanes shut down on 10PM Friday until 5AM on Monday. Take I-45 North as your alternate route.