Houston / Westpark Tollway opening-tour archive

Westpark Tollway opening tour: Sections 113–116

Photographed April 12, 2004

East of US 59, the tollway narrowed into its final ramps near Westpark Drive and Interstate 610. The April 2004 photographs catch the last toll plaza, unfinished walls and heavy temporary bracing.

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Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs

Near the east end, Westpark traffic would soon choose between the final exit and the last toll plaza.

Houston / Westpark Tollway opening tour

Follow the east end from US 59 to Interstate 610.

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Explore Sections 113 through 116

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Westpark Sections 113–116Back to top ↑

Final exit, toll plaza and unfinished roadway

The east end

Approach and east-end toll plaza

Eastward view toward the final Westpark Drive exit near Interstate 610. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Approaching the Westpark Drive exit
*(High resolution 622k)* Here is a look approaching the Westpark Drive exit. This is the last "exit" when traveling east.

Westward view from the final exit approach with the beginning of the westbound main lanes at right. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
West from the final exit approach
*(High resolution 610k)* Here is a look west from the same location as photo "A". The ramp on the far right of the photo is the beginning of the westbound mainlanes (see photos below).

Eastward view toward the final toll plaza and the end of the Westpark Tollway. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Approaching the east end toll plaza
*(High resolution 712k)* Here we are approaching the eastbound end of the tollway, and the last toll plaza.

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Unfinished roadway near the official end

Westward view from the east-end section with Westpark ramps on two levels. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Looking back from the east end
*(High resolution 623k)* Looking back from the same location as the photo above.

Unfinished walled roadway just east of the last Westpark toll plaza. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
East of the last toll plaza
*(High resolution 738k)* Standing just east of the last toll plaza.

Unfinished roadway and materials around the bend near the official east end of the tollway. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Construction around the bend
*(High resolution 970k)* Just around the bend from the last photo. There is a bit more work to complete before the opening. The official end is just around the corner. Due to the amount of construction in this section; it wasn't safe to continue.

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Bracing, exit and westbound entrance

Westpark Drive ramps

Temporary supports and the exit ramp

Westward view through tall retaining walls supported by rows of temporary cross bracing. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Temporary wall bracing
*(High resolution 684k)* Looking back from the same location as the photo above. Here is a better look at the bracing. Due to the length and height of the walls, and Houston's wonderful "gumbo" soil bracing like this is needed for stability.

Close view of steel braces meeting the top of the Westpark retaining wall. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Close view of the bracing
A closer looking at the bracing.

View up the empty Westpark Drive exit ramp with overhead toll equipment. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Westpark Drive exit ramp
*(High resolution 692k)* Looking up the Westpark Drive exit ramp.

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The final exit and start of the tollway

Southward view from the Westpark Drive exit ramp over the roadside area below. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Westpark Drive exit toll plaza
*(High resolution 824k)* A look south at the Westpark Drive exit toll plaza.

Southeast view from the end of the Westpark Drive exit ramp toward construction near Interstate 610. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
End of the Westpark Drive exit ramp
*(High resolution 815k)* The end of the Westpark Drive exit ramp.

Westward view up the entrance ramp where the Westpark Tollway begins from Westpark Drive. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Westbound start of the tollway
*(High resolution 672k)* This ramp is the westbound start of the tollway. You enter directly from Westpark Drive.

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The raised lanes and corridor orientation

Entrance views and route map

Eastbound structure and main lanes

Eastward view back along the westbound entrance ramp with elevated eastbound lanes in the background. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
East from the entrance ramp
*(High resolution 867k)* A look back east from the entrance ramp. The raised structure in the background is the eastbound lanes.

Westward view of the entrance ramp and Westpark corridor from the eastbound main lanes beside Interstate 610. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway opening-tour photographs
Entrance ramp from the eastbound main lanes
*(High resolution 664k)* One more look at the ramp, this time from the eastbound mainlanes.

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Map of Westpark Tollway tour Sections 113 through 116 from US 59 east to Interstate 610 with lettered photo locations. — Collection: TexasFreeway Westpark Tollway tour maps
Westpark Tollway Sections 113–116 tour map

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From the original archive

Westpark Tollway Pre-Grand Opening Tour Sections 113 through 116

For the purposes of clarity I have not drawn in all of the ramps, trenches, etc.

All of the photos on this page were taken on April 12th, 2004 (a misty-rainy day).

Follow the east end from US 59 to Interstate 610.

Explore Sections 113 through 116

The east end

Approaching the Westpark Drive exit

West from the final exit approach

Approaching the east end toll plaza

Looking back from the east end

East of the last toll plaza

Construction around the bend

Westpark Drive ramps

Temporary wall bracing

Close view of the bracing

Westpark Drive exit ramp

Westpark Drive exit toll plaza

End of the Westpark Drive exit ramp

Westbound start of the tollway

Entrance views and route map

East from the entrance ramp

Entrance ramp from the eastbound main lanes

Westpark Tollway Sections 113–116 tour map

Westpark Tollway Pre-Grand Opening Tour Sections 113 through 116

Westpark Tollway Pre-Grand Opening Tour Sections 113 through 116