HOUSTON – Houston is preparing for a permanent change to how drivers move between Downtown and east Downtown.
As part of the George R. Brown Convention Center expansion and TxDOT’s I-45 overhaul, City Council will vote next week on abandoning Polk Street downtown.
Houston First and TxDOT confirm the plan will alter routes for years.
Key points
- City Council to consider abandoning Polk Street downtown next week.
- Leeland Street slated to convert to two-way to keep traffic moving.
- Houston First says Polk will be “severed” during construction for 5–6 years.
- TxDOT says motorists can use a U-turn over new below-grade lanes and connect via the Hamilton Street extension to Leeland and Pease.
What’s changing
- Polk Street: The downtown segment would be given up by the City to enable the GRB expansion. During construction, Polk’s current continuous connection between EaDo and Downtown will not function.
- Leeland Street: Planned conversion to two-way to provide an alternate east-west path.
- Access options per TxDOT: U-turn over new below-grade I-45 main lanes; use Hamilton Street extension to reach Leeland and Pease.
Why it’s happening
Houston First, which operates the GRB, said community feedback pushed the redesign toward a broader district plan—prioritizing how Houstonians and convention visitors use the area, not just adding square footage.
“We looked at that. We listened to that. We went to the city—the city then endorsed that plan,” said Michael Heckman, president of Houston First.
“It was about how the community interacts with this area, creating a great space that appeals to both Houstonians and to conventioneers,” Heckman said.
Construction impact and timeline
- Polk disruption: “Polk Street will be completely changed from what it is today,” Heckman said, adding the corridor will be severed for five to six years during TxDOT construction.
- Council vote: Next week. If approved, long-term changes begin to phase in.
What the agencies say
- Houston First: Calls the expansion and street changes a long-term investment. “A project for the greater good that’s going to create jobs, create an amenity on the east side, and will be a great thing for Houston in the long term,” Heckman said.
- TxDOT (in email): The I-45 NHHIP “plans have and continue to call for a reroute of Polk Street from East Downtown to Downtown Houston. Motorists could use a U-turn to go over the new below grade main lanes to access Polk. TxDOT is aware of Houston First’s proposal to close Polk Street downtown. If that were to happen, motorists could still use the Hamilton Street extension to access Leeland and Pease streets.”
What drivers should expect
- Years of phased construction and reroutes near GRB and the I-45 work zone.
- Loss of Polk’s current direct connection; increased reliance on Leeland, Pease, and Hamilton extension.
- Ongoing adjustments as segments open, close, or switch direction during the build.
City Council will take up the Polk abandonment next week. If approved, this connector won’t look the same for years—if ever again.