News & Resources

Houston’s North I-45 Takings Process Slated to Resume

March 27, 2023 Posted in Eminent Domain / Condemnation Share

After a two-year hiatus due to a federal civil rights investigation, the $9.7 billion I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project (NHHIP) will proceed as one of the largest highway expansions in recent Texas history. TxDOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) came to an agreement in early March that includes alterations to the original plan in an effort to address community concerns regarding environmental repercussions and housing displacements.

Divided into three segments that span from downtown Houston to Beltway 8/Sam Houston Highway, the I-45 expansion will add four managed express lanes to the highway where some sections already have six lanes in either direction. It will also:

• Reroute I‐45 to be parallel with I‐10 on the north side of downtown Houston and parallel to US 59/I‐69 east of downtown Houston
• Realign sections of I‐10 and I‐69 in the downtown area to eliminate curves
• Lower I‐69 between I-10 and Spur 527 south of downtown

The takings process will quickly begin for impacted properties

Revisions to the plan include new commitments to increase community engagement and provide $30 million in housing relocation assistance, but does not shrink the project’s footprint or reduce the number of property owners impacted. TxDOT still plans to condemn more than 1,000 highway-adjacent properties according to the list of displacements in the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), displacing more than 1,000 residents and 300 businesses.

With the civil rights litigation resolved, the takings process is expected to begin quickly, heavily affecting neighborhoods east of downtown Houston.

Impacted landowners should consider the implications the I-45 expansion project could have on them and seek legal counsel from an experienced eminent domain lawyer to understand their rights and all of the factors that should be considered in determining fair value.

BACO will protect your right to negotiate a fair settlement

For 40 years Barron, Adler, Clough & Oddo, PLLC has advocated for Texas property owners impacted by eminent domain, condemnation, inverse condemnation, and regulatory takings. Through innovative strategies, our team of eminent domain experts have handled some of the largest and most legally significant eminent domain and condemnation cases across the state of Texas from rural areas; cities such as Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Lubbock and Corpus Christi; and everything in between. 

If you believe your property will be impacted by TxDOT’s North Houston Highway Improvement Project, contact us now for a free consultation so we can help you maneuver the takings process and maximize your compensation.

Resources:

• Agreement between TxDOT and FHWA
• TxDOT’s NHHIP Project Page
• TxDOT - "FHWA and TxDOT sign agreement to allow I-45 North Houston Highway Improvement Project to move forward"
• Texas Tribune - “After a two-year pause, feds give Texas the go-ahead to resume a major Houston highway expansion”
• Houston Public Media - “TxDOT’s I-45 expansion project will resume after federal officials resolve civil rights investigation”