Tags
Condemnation, Eminent Domain, highway widening, I-69, IH-45, North Houston Highway Improvement Project, State Highway 288, Texas Condemnation, texas eminent domain, TxDOT, TxDOT Houston
Despite months of delay, the Federal Highway Administration announced that TxDOT is allowed to proceed with portions of the I-45 project on North Houston Highway Improvement Project, which would widen I-45 from downtown Houston, Texas north to Beltway 8. The project is estimated to cost over $10 billion. TxDOT’s I-45 project will impact private property along I-69, State Highway 288, and IH-45 in Houston, Texas.
You can learn more about the project here:
https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/nhhip/
There are still many concerns that will need to address the impacts and displacements in Houston’s Third Ward. According to a November 29, 2021 letter from the Federal Highway Administration, TxDOT is allowed to acquire property through market negotiations, but at this time cannot rely on its eminent-domain power. Regardless, TxDOT should fairly compensate all the landowners along the project and not make lowball offers. This would allow the I-45 Project to proceed and reduce the harm to individual landowners. Landowners along the route should consider consulting with eminent-domain lawyers to make sure TxDOT pays just compensation, including damages to remaining property.