It’s a project that’s been 25 years in the works, but is being sped up to greet visitors from around the world.
HOUSTON — We are less than a year away now from the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to Houston, which means hundreds of thousands of fans pouring into the city.
The Texas Department of Transportation is turning up the pressure on one of its projects to beautify a major Houston freeway. TxDOT is sprucing up the gateways into downtown starting along I-69 near Hazard Street. Crews are removing drought and freeze-damaged vines, repainting walls to cover up graffiti, and replanting greenery to welcome the world to Houston.
“We’re going to paint the walls a light tan with some accent colors, and then we’ll also fill in the gaps with new vines where we’re missing them so they can all grow up over time,” said TxDOT landscape architect Ethan Beeson.
It’s part of a project that began more than 25 years ago when Houstonians asked for more green space along freeways. And with the World Cup coming, TxDOT says now is the time to bring that vision back to life.
“We want people to realize this is a great place to come visit,” Beeson said. “We also want everyone to understand Houston is a great place to live and work. We spent a lot of time over the years trying to make the freeways look as good as they can.”
TxDOT says shoulder closures will be in place in this area between Hazard and Montrose while work is underway. As a matter of fact, it’s already started. The vines, however, will take years to fully grow back, but officials say the wait will be worth it.
TxDOT hopes to keep these improvements in place well beyond the World Cup for Houstonians and visitors alike to enjoy.
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