Video Discription |
Everything is BIGGER in Texas, including the freeways. On this video we take a ride down the Katy Freeway from the suburb of Katy into Downtown Houston. The widest section occurs around the 13:45 mark.
Filmed: December 2021
Cities Explored: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1dwX1FsVT4oOEgd0ldCs8SDA3H6-fmrq4&usp=sharing
Follow on Instagram: https://instagram.com/mileagemike
Make a one time donation to support the channel:
https://cash.me/$milmike
Equipment Used:
SD Card: https://amzn.to/38ikIb6
Tripod: https://amzn.to/3vH1xQh
Camera: https://amzn.to/3Kdfx9E
Camera Mount: https://amzn.to/3vSX2m0
Computer: https://amzn.to/3EVZNaj
External HD: https://amzn.to/3vI8zUW
Glass Cleaner: https://amzn.to/3EWIQg1
Tablet: https://amzn.to/3vrLffx
Tablet Accessories: https://amzn.to/3FcmRBT
Smartphone Gimbal: https://amzn.to/3wPx2d0
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows me to bring you more videos in more places. Thank you for the support!
From Wikipedia:
From the western suburb of Katy to downtown, I-10 is known as the Katy Freeway in Houston. This section was widened in 2008 to as many as 26 total lanes, counting the six lanes of the access (frontage) road, which feature traffic signals, and driveway access and are not limited-access and therefore not technically part of the freeway itself but are directly adjacent. Between the West Beltway and the West Loop, the Katy Freeway features a basic configuration of 14 lanes, featuring seven lanes each direction. This cross-section swells with auxiliary lanes, ramp lanes, and the inclusion of the frontage access roads, although those lanes are controlled by traffic signals. Including auxiliary lanes, ramp lanes, and the access frontage roads, the minimum lane count is 22 total lanes. In this section, the width is 24 lanes at multiple locations and up to 26 lanes east of Gessner Road (12 main lanes, eight lanes of access roads, and six mid-freeway HOT/HOV lanes). From the Fort Bend county line to I-610, there is a minimum of four main lanes in each direction. The maximum number of undivided lanes at any point on the freeway is nine in the eastbound direction approaching Antoine Drive (though this includes one exit-only lane); this is one of the widest sections of undivided highway in a single direction in the world. The widest right-of-way, 556 ft (169 m), occurs at the Katy Freeway's intersection with Bunker Hill; at that point, the expansion plans called for six main lanes plus two toll lanes in each direction along with 10 lanes on the feeder/frontage roads. While this section still features 14 through continuous lanes through the Bunker Hill interchange, when auxiliary lanes, ramp lanes, and the frontage access roads are included, the actual striping after construction delineates 29 lanes, including all 26 of the planned lanes plus an additional lane in each direction to enter or exit the toll lanes and one more turn lane on the eastbound feeder road.
Between I-610 and I-45 west of downtown, the interstate contains at least five main lanes in each direction. Before 2008, this section had traditionally been the widest section of I-10 in the Houston area and the only one with a significant portion below grade. A project completed in 2014 added one extra auxiliary lane in each direction between Shepherd Drive and Taylor Street.[citation needed] In addition, the eastbound feeder road that ends at Studemont was extended to Taylor Street. As I-10 travels through downtown, it junctions with I-45 and I-69/US 59. Both interchanges feature left exits, allowing several lane shifts for through traffic. I-10 provides access to Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, and also runs through the campus of the University of Houston–Downtown
The section east of downtown Houston is officially known as the "East Freeway", although it is widely known by locals as the Baytown East Freeway or colloquially shortened to the Beast, due to a marketing push by Baytown,[citation needed] one of the largest cities in the Greater Houston Area. I-10 reaches Beaumont at an interchange with US 69/US 96/US 287 and it runs concurrently with the US Highways for 2.63 mi (4.23 km) and curves to the east again at a second interchange. At College Street (US 90), I-10 expands to eight lanes. I-10 meets US 90 again near the recently reconstructed Purple Heart Memorial Bridge over the Neches River; these highways travel concurrently the remainder of the way across the state. I-10 reaches Orange County and passes through the towns of Rose City, Vidor, Pinehurst, and Orange. Business US 90-Y splits off and comes back to I-10 near the Sabine River Bridge over the Sabine River. At the river, I-10 finally leaves Texas and crosses into Louisiana. |