Yale Street Bridge Reopens, Ahead of Schedule

HOUSTON, TX — It was not scheduled to open until late this year, but the Super Bowl seems to have had some pull.

The new Yale Street Bridge, which replaced an outdates structure that was built in 1931, is now open, and motorists and cyclists couldn't be happier. Not to mention Texas Department of Transportation officials.

"Through resourceful coordination between TxDOT and the contractor on this project, the citizens of the Heights community and those that traverse this area will now have a brand-new bridge earlier than anticipated," said Quincy Allen, a Houston district engineer with the agency. "This is a great example of all stakeholders working together, and we are especially thankful to have this bridge open in advance of the Super Bowl."

The $2.8 million project puts an end to detours through area neighborhoods that had caused frustration for motorists and residents since the construction's start, back in the spring of 2016.

The new bridge, which was designed to resemble the original Yale Street span, includes two 11-foot-wide lanes and an eight-foot-wide mixed-use sidewalk for pedestrians and bicyclists in both directions. To adhere to safety regulations, metal railing was added to the new bridge to provide additional protection between the roadway and the sidewalk.

— Image of original Yale Street Bridge courtesy Wikipedia Commons/TXAggie