What's happening?
Houston City Council originally approved splitting $4 million with the Houston First Corporation to repair and/or replace the decorative lighting on the Southwest Freeway bridges in September 2023.
However, over a year later, Finance Director Melissa Dubowski said the $2.6 million given to Houston First for the project is being sent back to the city.
"In looking at all of the needs that we have at the city, in working with the administration and working with Houston First, that project isn't going to be moving forward at this time," Dubowksi said during a Dec. 4 city council meeting.
Some context
The lighting on the six Montrose bridges was originally completed in 2017 ahead of Houston's last Super Bowl at NRG Stadium, but the lights went out and became defunct the following year.
According to previous Community Impact coverage, the lights were initially installed and maintained by the Montrose Management District, which dissolved in 2018, but relaunched in 2024.
The approved agreement with Houston First included installation of the new technology and maintenance for the next decade.
The discussion
Council member Abbie Kamin, who's district encompasses the bridges, voiced her displeasure with the city's decision to give back funds that were already pre-approved.
"When council has authorized funding, directed funding, and then it's redirected... that deserves transparency in the light of day," she said.
Kamin also noted that the project wasn't just about the decorative lighting, but about creating a safe environment for drivers and pedestrians crossing the bridges.
"There's no lighting for drivers on dark bridges," she said during the council meeting. "There's no street lamps. There's no nothing. It's not about the decorative lighting, but there has to be some form of lighting for drivers and pedestrians across the dark bridge."
Dubowski said the bridges were inspected over the summer by the Texas Department of Transportation, but no evidence was found that the bridges posed a safety issue.
What to expect
Mayor John Whitmire hinted during the city council session that the redirected $2.6 million could be used for other important initiatives, including his recently announced plan to address homelessness in Houston. However, as of Dec. 4, the funds have not been fully transferred back to the city yet.
Houston First CEO Michael Heckman said the corporation did finish the design work for the bridges and will be happy to work with the city to find additional sources of revenue to complete the project.
