This bridge can be used for leisure, but it’s also a route to and from work for others. One man says funding to repair this bridge couldn’t come soon enough.
HOUSTON — Residents around downtown are ready to see one of their preferred trails reopen.
Houston city council has approved emergency funding to repair the MKT Hogan Street pedestrian bridge, which was shut down for months due to structural damage.
This bridge can be used for leisure, but it’s also a route to and from work for others. One man says funding to repair this bridge couldn’t come soon enough.
Along White Oak Bayou, you often see runners or bicyclists.
Bobby Rajabian takes his scooter to and from work.
“It’s been impacting me quite some time,” he said. “I have to take another route into downtown. This route floods a lot in light rain, so it’s impacted me very much.”
The quicker route includes this bridge over White Oak Bayou, known as the Hogan MKT Pedestrian Bridge, which was demolished back in February. According to Houston Public Works, it was due to severe structural damage.
“It’s a two-mile detour to go over Houston Avenue in order to get to the bike trail now, so it makes it a little more difficult to get here,” one man told KHOU 11 on the trail.
One step has taken it closer to construction.
City council approved $1.25 million for emergency repairs after some people say they gave community input about the project.
“We contacted [Councilman Mario] Castillo’s office. He has people on top of it…I’m happy it’s not going to be the original two to three years they said,” one man said.
Right now, the project to rebuild the bridge is in the design stage, meaning a detour for people like Rajabian has an end in sight.
“[I’m] actually happy,” Rajabian said. “I don’t know why they closed it down. Knowing they are going to fix it sounds promising and good.”
Houston Public Works says construction will begin later in the fall and will be completed by May 2026.