Chimney Rock Road bridge to close weekend of Jan. 22 as construction crews prepare for traffic switch

The Chimney Rock Road bridge over Brays Bayou will be closed for construction the weekend of Jan. 22-24, according to a Jan. 20 update from the Harris County Flood Control District.

After the closure, northbound and southbound traffic will be switched to the newly constructed bridge.

During the closure, southbound traffic will be detoured west with drivers using the Hillcroft Avenue bridge to cross Brays Bayou. Northbound traffic will be detoured east with drivers using the Rice Avenue bridge to cross Brays Bayou.

“The traffic switch is expected to be completed by [Jan. 24]—weather permitting,” according to a press release from the HCFCD.

The bridge construction, which began in 2020 is projected to cost $10.3 million and is part of the larger Project Brays project. Project Brays has the goal of reducing the “risk and damages resulting from flooding events,” according to the HCFCD’s project page.

As part of the construction, the existing bridge was demolished and is being replaced with a higher, longer and wider bridge, which will allow more floodwater to flow through Brays Bayou.