A new direct connector from Hwy. 6 northbound to Hwy. 290 eastbound opened in late March in northwest Houston, a part of a larger ongoing project at the intersection by the Texas Department of Transportation that will also eventually include a new Hwy. 6 flyover bridge over Hwy. 290. However, the timeline for the next big step—demolishing the Hwy. 6 bridge over Hempstead Road and the Union Pacific Corp. railroad tracks—has been delayed by utility conflicts, TxDOT officials said. The bridge was slated to be complete by the end of 2019, but the timeline is being reworked, TxDOT Public Information Officer Deidrea George said. “TxDOT is working with the contractor to determine a new schedule,” she said. “Once the new schedule is in place, we will have a better idea of the timeline for the demolition of the existing bridge and the completion of the new bridge construction.” In the meantime, construction crews are continuing to work on other elements of the intersection projects, George said, including the construction of new Hwy. 6 and FM 1960 frontage roads that drivers will be diverted to while the new bridge is being constructed. Along Hwy. 6, much of the northbound frontage road is built, George said. Crews in early May were installing storm sewers along the southbound side, on top of which the new frontage road will be built, she said. “Along FM 1960, crews have placed storm sewer and laid down asphalt for the southbound frontage road and are placing storm sewer for the northbound frontage road,” she said. The new direct connector allows drivers to exit Hwy. 6 before Hempstead Road, continue eastbound along Hwy. 290 and enter the highway main lanes before North Eldridge Parkway, bypassing the traffic signal at the intersection, George said. The connector was intended to remove some of the traffic from having to cross through the Hwy. 6 and Hwy. 290 intersection, which is expected to see major delays after the Hwy. 6 bridge is demolished, officials said. Crews will also build a one-lane southbound Hwy. 6 bridge over Hempstead Road and the railroad tracks that will be entirely south of Hwy. 290 and separate from the future overpass. The bridge will provide another route for southbound drivers to avoid crossing the railroad tracks at grade.