Polk Street in downtown Houston closes for GRB expansion project
With Polk Street set to close, many East End residents say the loss of this critical route into downtown will make commutes longer and further isolate their community.
The first step in the George R. Brown Convention Center’s major expansion is set to take place on Wednesday, when a portion of Polk Street will be closed.
INITIAL REPORT: Polk Street closure on the table as GRB expansion and I-45 rebuild reshape downtown traffic
Polk Street, a critical route into downtown for most Houstonians, will be shut down between Chartres Street and Avendida de las Americas starting on Wednesday, November 5.
This comes after the Houston City Council voted 14-1 to permanently close a section of Polk Street on Oct. 15, although many residents urged the council to vote against the project.
They argued that large-scale projects like this have repeatedly come at their expense — from freeway construction to other city developments — cutting them off from key parts of Houston while promising “progress” that hasn’t benefited everyone equally.
Houston First Corporation, which is leading the convention center expansion, defends the plan.
The organization says closing Polk is essential to transforming the George R. Brown and is designed to align with TxDOT’s ongoing I-45 reconstruction project.
Closure Timeline:
Nov. 10 - Demolition will begin on the GRB’s south ramp that crosses over Polk Street
Nov. 14-17 and 21-14 - TxDOT will close the I-59 southbound ramps to I-45 (Drivers are encouraged to exit West Gray and take Pease St. or Joseph Pkwy into Downtown
Nov. 28 - the sidewalk of Polk Street between Chartress and ADLA will reopen for pedestrian and bicycle traffic ( Drivers are encouraged to take Pease Street or St. Joseph Parkway)
Work that will take place on and around Polk in the coming months includes, but is not limited to:
- Demolition of GRB ramp over Polk Street
- Demolition of the current Rustic location
- Utility waterline work
- Avenida South Garage electrical work
- GRB skybridge demolition
- Avenida South Garage demolition
