Washburn Tunnel to close nightly Aug. 5-9

July 29th, 2019

The Washburn Tunnel will be closed from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily, beginning Monday, Aug. 5 to Friday, Aug. 9. During that time, Texas Department of Transportation will conduct its biennial inspection, which is required by the Federal Highway Administration for all tunnels within the United States.

Drivers are reminded to use alternate routes during the closure. Alternate routes include I-610 East Loop Freeway, Sam Houston Parkway, and Highway 146.

The Washburn Tunnel is a two-lane underwater roadway connecting Galena Park and Pasadena. Named after Harris County Auditor Harry L. Washburn, the tunnel opened in 1950. It is the south’s largest and first toll-free vehicular tunnel. The site was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2008.

For more information and updates on the Precinct, visit www.hcp2.com

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Highway 146 construction to bring many challenges

March 4th, 2019

Clear Lake Chamber President Cindy DeWease, from right, welcomes Seabrook Mayor Thom Kolupski, City Manager Gail Cooke, and Melody Galland of TxDOT.

By Mary Alys Cherry

Many challenges are ahead for the Bay Area as the Texas Department of Transportation rebuilds and expands Highway 146 through Seabrook and Kemah, but we’ll live through it, Seabrook Mayor Thom Kolupski promised as he addressed the Clear Lake Chamber Luncheon at Lakewood Yacht Club.

“There will be many disruptions, but we’ll get through it,” he said, going on to explain that the difficult part has been so many businesses having to shut down. This will result in a large loss of sales taxes, he told the crowd, but the City of Seabrook has been preparing for the loss by saving money for needed expenses for the past several years.

And, while the construction on the $200 million project will slow traffic even more than it has been in recent months, the good news is the highway will always be accessible throughout the five years it will take to complete the construction work.

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