Rebuilt Brazos Street bridge reopens with intersection improvements

After a year and half since it was closed, the Brazos Street bridge has reopened, Houston Public Works announced Jan. 27.

The bridge, which carries traffic from Hwy. 59 via Spur 527 into Midtown, was closed after experiencing deteriorating conditions on the concrete decking. It has since undergone a $4 million reconstruction, which initially began in fall 2019 but was briefly halted while city officials considered alternative designs, including closing the bridge altogether and adding even more pedestrian-oriented features.

According to public works, the new bridge surface and reinforced steel structure are expected to last another 50 years.

The project also brought intersection improvements to Smith, Bagby and Holman streets—previously designated as among the 12 most dangerous intersections for bicyclists and pedestrians.

One southbound lane on Smith was removed to allow for a wider median for non-vehicle traffic safety, and a left-turn lane from Smith to Holman was removed. Wider curb ramps and a concrete trail were also incorporated into the intersections.

The engineering firm Aguirre & Fields oversaw the design of the bridge project.