Commute advice required - loop to energy corridor (Houston, Richmond: home, construction)

[hedgefundanalys]

I've lived in Houston for two years now and I have been able to get away with a 2mi commute (I live and work in Upper Kirby). Now I'm thinking of changing employers and have managed to get a very good offer out of a firm in the energy corridor. My only concern with accepting this offer is the potential commute (around 16mi one way). I would really appreciate any advice on how bad it really is.

I have spoken to people at the new employer and they say the commute is not a huge problem (we work 7-4 most days). I've taken the traditional 59/610/10 route in the early mornings once or twice and the outbound commute is probably not a huge issue. My concern is with the return commute. Even though I would be going against the flow of traffic I've found 610 west loop to be a mess every afternoon/evening I've used it. I've heard of people taking Eldridge or Dairy Ashford south to the Westpark tollway and bypassing the west loop that way. Another suggestion I have had is to stick to I10 and exit onto Durham at the heights.

Any personal experience/suggestions would be much appreciated.

[EasilyAmused]

Oildog should chime in, he makes the commute from near-by. But it's a reverse commute so it's not a big deal...maybe 20 minutes max each way if you can avoid the freeways. Backstreets are your friend.

I would almost exit silber, go through the park to shepard, right on Kirby and up. I do that drive at full time rush and it takes me less than 25 minutes in the morning.

[heightsian]

It's iffy inside the 610 loop these days. I make the reverse commute every day and some days, Shepherd/Durham exit backs onto I-10 due to construction. I think the West Loop would be faster, honestly, since Shepherd at rush hour is a bit slow up to Kirby.

[houstonfan]

I don't do the commute myself but have had occasion to drive this way so this is my 2c. Going outbound in the morning is not going to be an issue as you've noted. Coming in, 610 IS a mess. You have several good options like others have told you. The best option will depends on exactly where your work and home locations are. Since you leave at 4pm, going down to the Westpark via Bltwy 8 or Eldridge, etc, will not be too slow, the tollway will be a breeze but you'll jam up around 610, get on 59 and exit to home. Another good option, again, depending on where exactly the addresses are, is IH10 to Durham or whatever road closest to your home. Finally, i10 to silber or chimney rock, take memoial into town. You're luck you leave at 4pm, this makes traffic a lot less than say at 5pm.

[hedgefundanalys]

This forum rocks. I never expected to have so many good answers in such a short time. Thank you for the responses. My mistake for not being more specific on the addresses - I live near the Richmond/Kirby intersection and the offer I have is with BP.

[houstonfan]

In that case, I would think that I10/Bltwy8/Westpark/Kirby would be your best bet in the evening. In the morning, you are fine with 59/610/IH10. You're lucky your hours are earlier than true rush hour. I think the exit at BP is very congested at 5pm, certainly stay off Memorial to Eldridge during that time, I've bee stuck there before and it wasn't fun. Only one way to know, try it out! Remember too that once the kiddies are back in school, the traffic will be worse.

[heightsian]

I forgot about the Silber to Memorial (at 610) to Shepherd option -- used to take that a lot when the construction on I-10 inside the loop was especially horrendous and it was always relatively swift. I think that would be your best option right now. You'll definitely have issues on I-10 exiting the BP complex to get onto I-10 and then it can be slow up to the Beltway. But if you're leaving at 4 pm, it's most likely not a problem (except Fridays, maybe, when it seems rush hour starts at 2:30).

[houstonfan]

Originally Posted by heightsian

(except Fridays, maybe, when it seems rush hour starts at 2:30).

HA HA HA...ain't that the truth!!

[Oildog]

Mornings will be a breeze. I would stay off 610 after work it really gets backed up. You can cheat through onMemorial but its a lot of lights. Shephard works but it gets thick at the Parkway. AGree it may be fastest to head south on Eldridge and jump on Westpark. I could get from Eldridge to Washington/Houston streets in 30-35 minutes most days. 20 minutes in the am.