FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Total Closure of the Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge

Friday, January 8, 2015 at 8:00 PM; until Monday, January 11, 2015 at 5:00 AM.

The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) plans to temporarily shut down the Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge the weekend of Friday, Jan.8 ‐ Monday, Jan. 11 to convert the bridge to all‐electronic tolling.

When the bridge reopens, cash toll payment will no longer be accepted in the lanes. Drivers will need an EZ TAG or other type of interoperable toll tag on their vehicle to drive across the bridge and avoid a toll violation.   During the closure, construction crews will remove all toll booths, coin machines and demolish the plaza canopy.  The changes will improve traffic flow by allowing drivers to cross the bridge without stopping to pay or having to merge with traffic that has stopped to pay at the toll booths. Northbound traffic from Pasadena will be forced to exit onto Red Bluff Road. Southbound traffic will be required to exit at Jacintoport Blvd.

All closures are subject to change due to weather or emergencies. HCTRA has coordinated with Precinct 2 Commissioner’s Office and other agencies to ensure that drivers will have alternate routes during the bridge closure.

The Lynchburg Ferry will operate extended hours on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. ‐ 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10.  The Washburn Tunnel will maintain its normal hours of operation.

Please direct closure inquiries to HCTRA Incident Management at (281) 584‐7500.