TxDOT to Upgrade 23 Westheimer Road Intersections
The state plans to add enhanced crosswalks and traffic-calming features by summer 2028 to improve pedestrian safety in Houston.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Safety
The Texas Department of Transportation will implement safety improvements across 23 intersections on Westheimer Road between Loop 610 and Highway 6. This project aims to reduce pedestrian fatalities following a year where 10 people died along the 3.8-mile stretch.
Why it matters
The enhancements target specific safety gaps, aiming to shorten crossing distances and encourage lower vehicle speeds in a high-traffic corridor. The effort aligns with broader goals to address fatal pedestrian crash patterns in the region.
The plan includes highly visible pavement markings and design elements to narrow travel lanes at 23 intersections, addressing a corridor where 70% of fatal pedestrian crashes involve people crossing outside of designated crosswalks.
The players
Texas Department of Transportation
This state agency is responsible for maintaining public roadways and executing large-scale infrastructure and safety projects across Texas.
Hailey Reed
She was a 19-year-old who lost her life in a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred on Westheimer Road.
The details
Engineers plan to utilize traffic-calming design elements to improve pedestrian visibility and driver compliance. These changes follow a history of accidents on the 3.8-mile stretch, including the 2022 death of 19-year-old Hailey Reed.
Timeline
Houston launched the Vision Zero initiative in 2019.
Hailey Reed was killed in a pedestrian crash on October 15, 2022.
Ten pedestrians died on the Westheimer stretch during 2022.
Contract award and start of construction are expected in fall 2027.
The project is expected to reach completion by summer 2028.
Seasonal Patterns
This project follows the precedent of Houston's Vision Zero initiative, which was established in 2019 to eliminate traffic fatalities. The initiative marks a shift in municipal road design toward prioritizing pedestrian safety over vehicle throughput.
Residents should anticipate upcoming changes to traffic patterns and lane widths between Loop 610 and Highway 6 once construction begins in late 2027. Drivers are encouraged to stay alert for new pavement markings and revised crossing signals that will be installed to protect pedestrians.
The takeaway
These infrastructure changes reflect a data-driven approach to reducing pedestrian accidents on high-risk urban corridors. Motorists can prepare for the future shift by familiarizing themselves with upcoming changes to traffic-calming zones in the area.
Further reading
Learn more about local efforts to improve road security in the Houston Safety section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPRC.
