Two portions of Houston’s 100-plus-year-old MKT Bridge recently closed along the Buffalo Bayou trail in Houston for city officials to repair damages and address safety issues.

The details

One portion of the MKT Bridge on Studewood Street closed in late January after equipment and debris from a nearby Texas Department of Transportation construction project collided with the bridge. According to a Houston Parks Board map of the closure, inspections are currently in progress to assess any damages. However, there is no date on when repairs will be completed.

Erin Jones, the acting communications director for Houston Public Works, said the portion of the MKT Bridge near Hogan Street also closed Feb. 4 after public works officials and structural engineers determined that the bridge needed to be rehabilitated.

Jones said the project will include HPW taking out parts of the bridge over White Oak Bayou at its weakest points, as well as making repairs to the bridge’s pillars due to fire damage.
Houston Public Works will take out parts of the bridge that is over the White Oak Bayou because it has the weakest points, as well as making repairs to the bridge’s pillars due to fire damage. (Courtesy Houston Public Works)
Houston Public Works will take out parts of the bridge that is over the White Oak Bayou because it has the weakest points, as well as making repairs to the bridge’s pillars due to fire damage. (Courtesy Houston Public Works)
“Our goal is to keep the trail open as long as possible because we know how vital it is,” Jones said. “The damage is due to the bridge’s age, there’s a lot of stuff involved that needs to be replaced. We don’t want it collapsing on anybody, we don’t want it to sag.”


Jones said demolition could start on this portion of the bridge sometime this week and is expected to last for approximately two weeks. After demolition finishes, the trail on Hogan Street is anticipated to reopen. However, she said once HPW hires a contractor to begin construction, that portion of the bridge will close again. There is not currently a timeframe for when construction will start or finish.

“They have to figure out how they want to rebuild the bridge,” Jones said. “It’s either going to need an extensive rehabilitation or a complete rebuild. We don’t have those answers quite yet because the contractor hasn’t been selected, and that takes a long time.”

Pedestrians are currently recommended to take Houston Avenue to Washington Avenue to get to Downtown Houston or take Hogan Street to Main Street. Jones said HPW's website will update and provide detours to Houstonians as needed.