🚗Your weekly traffic update: 2 Important things to know this weekend

HOUSTON – Hey Space City,

We are almost to the weekend and the holiday season is in full swing. Many are heading out to celebrations and making plans for the New Year. If you plan on traveling this weekend, there are two things you should know!

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I-45 Weekend Closure

Heading to the north side of town? There is one closure that will impact your drive throughout the weekend. Starting Friday at 9 pm the I-45 North Freeway northbound connector ramp to I-610 North Loop will be closed. According to TxDOT, crews will be making pavement repairs. You can also expect to see the I-610 North Loop right lane heading eastbound and left lane heading westbound closed from Airline Dr. to Fulton St. These closures will come to an end Monday morning.

H-town Holiday Flights

Boy-O-Boy! Have you booked your flight for the holidays? Both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby are preparing to welcome its largest winter holiday travel crowd the two airports have seen on record. According to airport officials, the best day to beat the crowds for last minute flights will be on Monday, Dec. 25th and Saturday, Dec. 30th. Those flying on Dec. 15th, 17th, and 18th will experience the busiest times. The winter holiday travel period kicks off today and will end just after the New Year on January 3rd.

Here are my top three travel tips:

• Give yourself extra time: Traveling is already stressful. So why add to the stress by being pressed for time? Heading to the airport hours before your flight will allow breathing room as you navigate the crowds.
• Pack your patience and a little holiday cheer: Having patience will save you from frustration. However, spreading a little holiday cheer with a nice gesture or smile could make someone’s day. If you’re like me, you could snag a seat upgrade or extra flight goodies by being a friendly passenger. 😉
• Travel with a carry-on bag: With flight delays and lost luggage, you never know when a carry-on could come in handy. Be sure to pack a change of clothes and snacks to make things smoother if you ever run into an inconvenience.

Safe Travels! ❤️

Justina Latimer

KPRC 2 Traffic Expert

Have a traffic question? I can help.

What do you want to know about Houston traffic? We will be answering your questions on-air. You can email them to JLatimer@KPRC.com or ask here!

Airports

• Plan ahead! According to Houston airport officials, nearly 4 million passengers are expected during the winter holiday period.

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Weekend construction

• I-610 South loop eastbound connector ramp to I-45 will be closed from 9 pm, Friday, to 5 am, Monday.

Houston’s big projects

• The Gulf Freeway Expansion
• The Grand Parkway
• The West Loop-Southwest Freeway Interchange Rebuild

Get your traffic news, maps and route planner 24/7 at Click2Houston.com/traffic.